COUNCILLORS have agreed to set aside an objection concerning a proposed residents' parking scheme to cope with football match day traffic in Darlington.

The scheme was one of the planning conditions tied to Darlington Football Club's new stadium.

Now the football season has started, Darlington Borough Council is hoping to start operating the scheme "at the earliest opportunity".

The scheme will only be operational on match days and is designed to prevent football fans parking their cars in residential streets near the stadium.

After consultation with residents from the 770 properties affected, one person objected to the scheme on the grounds that he did not want white parking bays painted on the road surface in his street.

The resident, who was not named, said there was no need for the scheme in Brankin Drive, where he lived.

He also said he believed the council should not bear the cost of the scheme.

But a meeting of the council's cabinet heard that the football club was to be invoiced for the full cost of the scheme.

Darlington councillors agreed that the objection should not be upheld.