BUSINESS owners in Yarm are urging a council to introduce three-hour parking in the town centre in a bid to improve trade.

Stockton Borough Council announced plans to change parking restrictions for the first time in 30 years last summer.

But following a series of consultations, officials agreed to look at ideas suggested by residents in more detail before making any decisions.

Traders in Yarm believe the introduction of three-hour parking would give visitors a better experience.

Shop owners met council officers and Dari Taylor, MP for Stockton South, last week to discuss the move.

Trader Peter Bell said: “The council has agreed to look at the option of putting three-hour parking in place in the High Street.

“We have carried out our own survey, and people want three-hour parking. It gives them a chance to park up and have lunch and go shopping without rushing around.

“This is exactly what shoppers in Thornaby get and it works for them.

It would make a massive difference.”

He added: “People are being driven away from the town because of the parking situation.

“We see the three-hour parking as a short-term measure. It is up to the council to find long-stay parking solutions as we can’t acquire land.”

The main ideas were: a long-stay car park; charging for short-stay parking in the High Street, and an extension to disc parking to allow moreshort-stay time in the High Street.

People were asked to identify which site would be most suitable for a long-stay car park, with a choice of: the Brickyard site, south of Yarm; Worsall Road allotments; or land allocated for Yarm cemetery extension.

Nearly 900 responses were received from residents, shoppers and business owners.

Mr Bell added: “We need to make things easy for visitors.”

A council spokesman said: “The public consultation carried out in 2009 showed the majority of people did not support the extension of disc parking from two to three hours.

“Officers did meet traders last week and we will continue discussions with them as we move forward.

“The viability and success of local business is a priority.”