A NEW phase of parking controls in congested areas of Durham City comes into operation next week.

Residents in the Gilesgate, Claypath and The Sands areas will be granted parking permits. Pay-and-display machines will be installed for everyone else.

It is the second of three phases to be introduced by Durham County Council and will be operational next Monday. The police have chosen NCP to run the scheme.

Parking arrangements - already operational in the Elvet and Whinney Hill areas - have been designed to reduce conflicts between residents, commuters and students searching for limited parking spaces. Residents have been balloted on the issue with support in favour of the scheme in some streets as high as 100 per cent.

County council cabinet member Don Ross said: "We have carried out a detailed consultation exercise to find out what people want, and designed a series of measures to meet their aspirations. We have found that people living in the first zone are more than pleased with the effect the scheme is having in reducing congestion and they are happy to see the parking attendants on the streets."

Exemption permits are being issued to residents, their visitors, and the medical professions, while people with a disability will be exempt from charges and time restrictions in the zone.

Free secure parking frames are to be provided for bicycles, motor cycles and scooters, and a shop, in North Road, run by NCP, is open for people to obtain permits and information.

The county council is consulting residents about the third zone, which includes Margery Lane, Crossgate and North Road area, to be introduced in the spring