NEW rules over waiting times in town centre loading bays have been relaxed after a trader dubbed the changes bonkers and draconian.

Town centre businesses complained after Darlington Borough Council reduced restrictions over waiting times in loading bays from 30 minutes to ten minutes of inactivity.

Traders were angry that some delivery drivers were getting parking tickets and said the time restriction was not long enough, particularly for businesses without parking directly outside.

The ten-minute restriction was introduced as part of the council taking over all parking enforcement from the police at the start of the year.

Now, a senior councillor has asked traffic wardens to relax the restriction and use their discretion and common sense.

Councillor Bill Dixon, cabinet member for neighbourhood services and community safety, said he hoped the relaxation would end the problem of legitimate delivery drivers being ticketed.

"I have instructed the officers to relax the rules, " he said. "Now, as long as their activity is over a reasonable period, delivery drivers in loading bays won't be ticketed.

"This is a brand new scheme. There will be glitches in it.

"We know that delivery drivers have a job to do and won't be parked up for any longer than they need to be. It's taking some of them longer than ten minutes to get back to their vans.

"Any delivery drivers who have received tickets while loading or unloading and think it is wrong should appeal."

Mike Barker, who owns The Healthfood Warehouse, in Post House Wynd, welcomed the relaxation.

"That is excellent news, " he said. "It is a very sensible decision."

Mr Barker, who is also a borough councillor, said he could not remember an issue over which he had received more complaints.

Speaking to The Northern Echo earlier this month, he dubbed the original ten minutes of inactivity policy as bonkers and draconian.

Speaking yesterday, he said: "My phone has been ringing all the time about this. I have had customers coming into my shop who have been outraged about the original changes, saying they were ridiculous.

"I am sure the news will be welcomed by all the traders in the town centre."