CHANGES to parking restrictions in a congested high street have edged closer to being resolved.

Yarm parish council has backed proposals following concerns that existing laws were adversely affecting local business.

More than 50 traders have lobbied the town council in the picturesque Teesside town to make the parking more flexible.

A range of options will now go before Stockton Borough Council for deliberation.

They include increasing the free parking from two hours to three hours in a contained area and decreasing the number of hours the bottleneck is patrolled by a traffic warden.

At the moment visitors can park for free for a maximum of two hours between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, and then face a £50 fine.

Paddy Morton, from Yarm Chamber of Commerce, said he was delighted that the town council had supported the options.

“We have done a survey of people in Yarm and of the half we have read so far, 500 signatures support the proposals. We are very pleased with the reaction,” he said.

“From a business point of view we want Yarm to be as attractive as possible so we have to put our best foot forward.”