THE chairman of Yarm Chamber of Trade fears businesses will fail unless local councils tackle issues deterring customers from visiting the town.

In a letter to the D&S Times, Stephanie Richardson, owner and manager of the Strickland and Holt department store, criticised them for not doing enough to help.

She said firms had little opportunity to grow, yet rents and rates went up each year.

"In return for the payments we make we would like to see some effort by the authorities to help enterprises in the town," she said.

"We need an increase in customer levels through tourism. We need a tourist centre, a railway station, improved cycle and pedestrian access."

She said Yarm Fair "knocks businesses in the town for six" with many choosing to close for the week owing to the inconvenience caused.

Peter Woods, clerk to Yarm Town Council, which organises the fair, said she had a valid point about the disruption, but it was only for three or four days.

"I think the vast majority of people in Yarm are supportive of the fair and not all traders are against it," he said. "Most, if not all of the town councillors, are in favour of retaining the fair."

He rejected Mrs Richardson's suggestions that it should move to a more appropriate venue, like Preston Park, arguing it would no longer be Yarm Fair.

Mrs Richardson also believes insufficient parking deters shoppers from visiting the town.

"The town needs 400 short-stay spaces available to shoppers to enable the existing shops to continue," she said.

"If the High Street was short stay, it would provide 320 spaces and the future of the shops in the town would be secured."

A coach park was also needed.

Mr Woods said the town council also wanted more parking spaces. "The problem is we are not looking for a few car parking spaces, we need 300-400.

"We have talked about potential areas, but they are all on the other side of the river and would have to have a footbridge across to the town centre."

David Lynch, of Stockton Council traffic management department, said the council was examining parking in Yarm, with a consultant's report expected this month. The chamber of trade would be consulted on its recommendations.

Mrs Richardson also wants more done with the river, including a slipway for boats, to help boost tourism and leisure - a suggestion Mr Woods said would interest the town council.

He said work would start in September on a local plan when local people would be consulted. Potential projects could then be suggested.

Mrs Richardson also highlighted the position of the railway station - two miles from Yarm town centre - and suggested a cycleway along the river with a bridge to Ingleby Barwick.

Rob Farnham, team leader of Stockton's transport planning, said there was no other railway station site in Yarm.

Yarm Town Council will discuss Mrs Richardson's letter in September.

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