PLANNERS are to consider an application for a two-storey car park in Darlington town centre.

The Rachel Charitable Trust, which owns the Cornmill Centre, has applied for planning permission to extend the public car park on Crown Street.

It is hoped the extension, giving the car park a second level, will help ease the parking problems in the town centre, especially at weekends.

Since the Crown Street car park was opened by the shopping centre, it has attracted a large number of shoppers and there are often queues for spaces at the weekend.

It is hoped the extension would allow about 400 cars to be parked, compared with the 250 the car park can hold at present.

Businesses and people living near the centre have been asked for their comments on the expansion and all views will be noted before a decision is made.

A spokesman for the Rachel Charitable Trust said: "We are hoping to start work this year if planning permission is granted.

"Currently, the car park is busy from 9am until 5pm every day and we want to alleviate that for people coming to shop in the town.

"The new level of the car park will make things better for shoppers and for the retailers as it should be easier to get people into the area if they can park nearby."

The proposal comes days after planning permission was given for pub chain Wetherspoons to convert an empty shop on Crown Street into a Lloyds No 1 wine bar.

The former freezer shop, bought by the Rachel Charitable Trust when it took over the shopping centre, will be converted into a pub if a licence is granted.