TWO apparently contradictory parking signs at the same spot have baffled drivers.

Motorists were left scratching their heads and calling for Darlington Borough Council to make parking restrictions fully clear after images emerged of the two contradictory signs in Polam Lane.

The top one tells drivers they can park legally between 9am and 5pm for two hours, but the one directly below says there is no waiting at any time between 8am and 6pm.

The council says the sign was overlooked when it changed the restrictions and has since been removed.

The sign has also reopened the wider parking debate, with business owners dubbing the council's parking policy as "draconian" and damaging to town centre trade.

One resident simply called the signs "another finemess", while another said it was "very confusing".

Mike Barker, who owns The Health Food Warehouse in the town centre, said: "The council quite clearly needs to do a better job of explaining what the parking regulations are around the town and to let people know more clearly where they can and can't park.

"If they have contradictory signs like this, it is bound to cause confusion."

He also renewed calls for the council to relax its parking policy to help town centre traders compete with out-of town shops.

"It is very quiet in the town centre and having a draconian parking regime doesn't help in encouraging people to come to town.

"If people fear one little mistake, like parking in the wrong spot, or overstaying their time limit by five minutes means they are going to get slapped with a £70 fine, they are going to stay away.

"Darlington town centre needs as much help as possible to compete with out-of town shopping centres, and this draconian parking policy does not help."

A spokeswoman for the council said when the council took over parking enforcement from the police at the start of the year, a survey was taken to check all signs were up to date, and the Polam Lane one was earmarked for removal.

"It appears it was not removed as part of these works.

However, we can now confirm the no-waiting sign has been removed and we will continue to monitor signage and road markings to ensure they are appropriate, " she said.