CALLS to relax on-street parking times in Darlington continued this week.

Conservative councillors backed appeals by shop owners in Grange Road to extend the one-hour parking limit to two-hours.

Their call follows reports that trade had been affected since the meters and charges were introduced in November last year.

Coun Jim Ruck told the D&S Times he would write to John Buxton, the borough council's director of development and environment, to obtain further information about the situation.

"We don't think the town hall is really in receipt of the current trading information," he said.

"I will ask for the current trading figures and any relevant information with regards to monitoring.

"We agree that the parking time on Grange Road needs to be extended to two hours."

Andy Atkins, chairman of Grange Road Traders Association, and owner of the Cooks and Kitchens store, said the shop owners would welcome a two-hour parking limit.

"We know parking charges won't be abolished but businesses here are suffering. One hour is not enough time to go into clothes shops and have a coffee."

At last week's full council meeting, Coun Ruck also called for the ring road work to be speeded up.

His plea followed heavyweights Binns and the Cornmill Centre adding their voices to the growing disquiet among businesses that trade had been negatively affected by roadworks and the closure of Crown Street car park in February.

Some traders claimed losses of up to 50pc as a combined effect of the work and the national downturn in the consumer market.

Coun Nick Wallis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "The timing of the work on the ring road was unfortunate. We were set back by utility work for three months. I don't think anyone would have thanked us if we had done all the utility work then dug it up a few months later to do our work. I think it was right to combine it." He said the contractors were now working until 7pm.

Traders this week also urged shoppers not to be discouraged by the works and parking conditions. Jeremy Borlant, director of Seymour's in the market place, said: "Darlington is a great place to shop and definitely worth visiting.

"Many of the businesses are independent and owner-managed and people will get good deals.

"There are a variety of shops and people come to us from Newcastle, Harrogate and York.

"The national trend is affecting things at the moment but people shouldn't be put off by the roadworks.