PARKING charges should be halved while work to pedestrianise the centre of a town in the region is carried out, a councillor has said.

The £6.5m Darlington Pedestrian Heart scheme is nearing completion, but town centre traders have raised concerns about the impact the pedestrianisation will have on their businesses.

Some traders in High Row and in the covered market in the town claimed their takings were down by up to 50 per cent.

On-street parking charges have also recently been introduced, which coincided with a national downturn in high street spending.

At a meeting of Darlington Transport Forum, members raised the prospect of making concessions to parking charges being enforced in streets around the town centre.

Although a report presented to the meeting showed that footfall was increasing and extended parking charges were helping to ensure spaces were more frequently available, Councillor Jim Ruck said there should be a 50 per cent reduction in on-street parking charges while pedestrianisation work continues.

However, council officials quickly moved to rule out the suggestion, saying their handling of the Pedestrian Heart issue was proving successful.

Coun Ruck said Darlington was also competing for trade alongside other market towns in the North-East and North Yorkshire. He said: "I am interested in getting as many people as possible into Darlington by car, as well as by the sustainable methods of by bus or cycling. If we could get them into Darlington, that would improve the businesses - and that is what it is all about.

"The disruption being caused by the Pedestrian Heart is unavoidable, we have been told there are long term benefits. But as work proceeds through the town, could there be a 50 per cent reduction in car parking charges over the hard time? It would be a very good PR position for this council to be in, and deserves some thought."

Council officers at the meeting said that a liaison officer, Geraint Williams, had been appointed to work with town traders, and that their views were being taken into account.

A spokesman for Darlington Borough Council added: "We have no plans at the moment to reduce parking charges in the town centre.

"The issue of parking charges hasn't really been raised by businesses in relation to the Pedestrian Heart work, but the council is working with traders to promote their businesses as much as possible."