Businesses react to parking charge increase

James Baggaley said his business had not suffered under previous rises

Business owners have warned increased parking charges could impact how long shoppers stay in a town centre.

After free parking was scrapped in 2023, Darlington Borough Council is increasing fees again on Monday, raising the charge for a one-hour stay from £1 to £1.20.

Store owner Karen Holmes said: "Rather than not come in at all, I think people are very wary of how much time they spend here, so that might affect it again."

The Labour-led authority said it was aware of the concerns around the increase, but it was needed due to financial pressures.

Ms Holmes, who runs Refrill Vintage on Bondgate, said: "It's only 20p at the end of the day, but if you want to stay all day, it's a pound."

"If they made a couple of hours free, that would be great to bring people in," she told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A £5 cap will be enforced in short stay car parks. In the council's long stay car parks, charges will also increase to £1.20 per hour for up to three hours, £5 per day, or £20 for a weekly ticket.

Some business owners say they will have to pay more to park outside their own stores

Victoria Slack from the Emporium, on Grange Road, also warned that business owners relied on parking bays for accessibility.

Ms Slack said: "If we park for a few hours a day to load stock into the shop, that is £3 and £60 a month to park in front of your own shop."

Despite parking charges being reinforced and rising in recent years, Joseph Baggaley at Earth Warriors on Skinnergate said his business had not suffered.

"After the charges came in last time, I saw a big increase in trade, and I've only ever seen an improvement," he said.

Mr Baggaley said an increased turnover of cars would be beneficial as more people would find somewhere to park.

He added: "It is unfortunate that the prices are rising, but the council has to raise money. It's a hard situation."

The new fares are estimated to generate an additional £500,000 for the council.