With an unprecedented demonstration against Darlington Borough Council planned to take place in the town this morning, Stuart Mackintosh looks at the background tosome of the grievances.

PARKING CHARGES

Small businesses have repeatedly stressed their anger at the introduction of on-street parking charges in some streets last year.

Independent traders in Grange Road and Duke Street initially said they had suffered a decline in trade because visitors could only park for one hour, paying 80p for the privilege.

Objections: The charges are driving potential customers away to rival retail destinations in the region.

The council's position: The authority has agreed to extend the maximum stay in some streets to two hours. The charges have helped prevent commuters staying all day, adding nothing to the vibrancy of the town centre.

TAXI DRIVERS

Cabbies have had several long-running feuds with the town hall and are, unsurprisingly, against the traffic system changes which have recently been introduced.

The council's insistence that drivers sit extra tests before being allowed to drive cabs in the town and arguments over what colour taxis were allowed to be in the borough are among the issues to have seen the two at loggerheads.

Objections: Cabbies are furious at the most recent work on the traffic system, claiming that they will be left with nowhere to work from and that they had been hit by a loss of trade.

The council's position: The town centre changes are being reviewed on a regular basis and cabbies' concerns are taken into account.

HIGH ROW

Council leaders believe the £6.5m revamp of the town centre will give the local economy a boost.

The so-called pedestrian heart scheme will also help bring balance to the centre when a major shopping centre is built elsewhere in the town and avoid an exodus of shoppers.

However, the removal of Victorian features on High Row has been one of the most contentious issues of recent years.

Leading the protests is Darlington Civic Trust, which secured 4,635 signatures on a petition opposing the scheme.

However, council planners and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister approved the work, hailing it as a golden opportunity to enhance the town centre.

Objections: The area will lose its traditional character and look no different to other "identi-kit" town centres across the country.

The council position: The scheme has overwhelming support from residents and from big-name businesses such as Binns and Marks and Spencer, as well as the Cornmill Centre.

DARLINGTON FOOTBALL STADIUM

Darlington Borough Council felt that it was acting in the best interests of the town by not taking legal action to enforce planning conditions placed on the football club's new stadium.

The council feared that the Quakers would have gone out of business if the opening of the £20m venue had been delayed. However, by not acting, the authority left itself open to claims it had ignored the feelings of local people opposed to the development.

Opponents brought the matter to the attention of the Local Government Ombudsman, and the council was found guilty of maladministration. The Ombudsman said the council's actions had "undermined the confidence of residents in its assurances".

Objections: That the council failed to step in when parking and traffic management was not ready in time for the stadium's opening.

The council's position: While accepting the criticisms, it maintains a delay would have left the club in dire financial straits.