Businessman opens up land for free parking

The entrepreneur said he was driving through the town at the weekend and saw that most of the car parks were full.

It prompted him to open up the land behind his Haughton Road health club for public parking.

He said: "There were queues of cars at each car park. I made the decision to open the former Northern Electricity Board site for free parking after seeing how difficult it can be to find spaces in town centre car parks."

Mr Bannatyne's offer will create about 250 extra spaces for shoppers.

"I just wanted people to have the chance to go into the town for their Christmas shopping and have somewhere to park that did not cost them anything," he said.

"There is space for around 250 cars in that area and we currently use it as an overspill car park for the health club.

"But if it can also be used to give people more places to park, and for free, and if that makes their Christmas shopping a little easier, then that is great."

Those taking advantage of the free parking are asked not to leave their cars in the members' car park, which is the area for parking immediately around the health club.

The free parking area can be accessed through the metal gates that lead to the former Northern Electricity Board site.

Bannatynes has recently clamped down on parking violations at the club, particularly those motorists parking in disabled spaces without displaying the appropriate badge. Clamps are now in use for those parking in unauthorised areas.

A Darlington Borough Council spokesman said the town's car parks did get full in the run-up to Christmas.

But he said there were 2,000 spaces in council car parks, 1,500 spaces in privately run sites and lots of on-street parking spaces.

"Motorists have got the illuminated signs that tell them where there are spaces. But from now until Christmas, and particularly at weekends, it is very busy. Any additions are welcome," he said.