THREE new short-stay car parks in Darlington are set to be turned back into long-stay facilities after shoppers failed to use them.

The car parks at Archer Street, Garden Street and Kendrew Street were long-stay until April but were then changed to cater for shoppers in the town centre.

But since the change, which was unpopular with commuters working in the town centre, there have been fewer people using the car parks.

Although the three areas have been busy with weekend shoppers, they have often been left empty during the week.

Recommendations to change the car parks back to their original status will be considered by Darlington Borough Council cabinet members next week.

If the council agrees to change the car parks, they will become long-stay from Monday to Friday but remain short-stay on Saturdays to cater for shoppers.

Many people who commute into Darlington had said they were forced to pay high short-stay prices to leave their cars in secure places or walk across town, while shoppers had a large number of car parks to choose from.

Coun Nick Wallis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: "We're constantly re-assessing town centre car parking.

"The proposed changes are a sensible move given the current usage of these car parks and it demonstrates we have listened to the views of people who use them."

If the changes are approved, they will be carried out within the next few months.