TRADERS will today warn councillors that their businesses could collapse if on-street car parking charges are introduced in Darlington town centre.

Shopkeepers from Grange Road, Northumberland Street and Duke Street claim the planned introduction of a £1-an-hour parking charge will deter people from visiting their businesses.

They plan to address a joint meeting of Darlington Borough Council's environment and resources scrutiny committees this afternoon. Andy Atkins, from Cooks and Kitchens in Grange Road, said they hoped to persuade councillors to remove some of the streets from the proposed scheme.

He said: "The charges will have a detrimental impact. Seventy-five per cent of our customer base is from outside Darlington."

Traders have won the backing of Anthony Frieze, Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Darlington. He said the charges and planned Commercial Street development and pedestrianisation could leave shops in the southern part of town struggling.

"I can't help wondering if the scheme is more about revenue raising," he said.

John Buxton, the authority's director of environment and development, said town centre residents had complained that they had to pay for parking permits while shoppers and commuters could park on-street for free.

"Commuters and shoppers are not guaranteed a space within a local area, whereas residents are generally able to find a space in residents' parking zones," he said.

"This can lead to excessive traffic circulating a residential area, seeking a free parking space. This has a detrimental effect for residents and the local environment."

A decision will be taken on the scheme in June by full council.