TRADERS in a Darlington street are to meet council officials in protest at plans to introduce on-street car parking charges.

Businesses in Grange Road fear their shops could be forced to close if fewer people come to the street because they have to pay to park.

The period of consultation on the council's planned town centre on-street car parking scheme - that would see motorists charged £1 an hour on roads that already have waiting restrictions - has come to an end.

But traders in Grange Road, Duke Street, Northumberland Street and Gladstone Street, who fear their businesses may become unfeasible if the charges come in, are still writing letters of protest to the council.

The Grange Road Traders' Association has had posters printed, which shops are displaying in their windows to make the public more aware of the proposals.

Andy Atkins, who runs Cooks and Kitchens, in Grange Road, said: "A lot of people are still unaware of the changes. There were two council notices put up recently in the street, but only one is left and people just haven't seen it.

"Grange Road is quite a unique place to shop in Darlington and our direct competition is with Yarm and Northallerton, both of which have free disc parking.

"Many of the businesses on this street have very tight margins and if footfall goes down as a result of the charges, I can see many feeling it is unfeasible to carry on.

"Our street is the kind of place where people park up and pop in to pick things up, or just to have a quick look round. They won't want to pay extra money to have to do that."

Traders believe the council is introducing the charges to increase its coffers. As a result of the changes, the council will take over enforcement measures on the streets concerned from the police - and will make money from the parking tickets issued.

Mr Atkins said: "With the new Commercial Street shopping development, the town centre will shift towards there, leaving Grange Road in a worse position because they won't want to come this far.

"Also, the Government is looking at increasing rates, which is our highest overhead as it is.

"And with these parking charges it is just another nail in the coffin for the specialist shops in Grange Road."

He encouraged shoppers, and other traders around the town, to write individual letters to Darlington Borough Council if they disagreed with the plans.

A council spokeswoman said a report was being prepared which would be presented to scrutiny committee, then to the council's Cabinet meeting.

* The roads being considered for car parking charges are Beaumont Street, South Street, Grange Road, Northumberland Street, Larchfield Street, Powlett Street, Primrose Street, East Raby Street, Raby Street, West Powlett Street, Duke Street, Barnard Street, Winston Street, Napier Street, Abbey Road, King Street, Kendrew Street, Gladstone Street, North Lodge Terrace, Park Place, Hargreave Terrace, Victoria Road and Victoria Embankment.