A CASH-STRAPPED parish council has made a plea to be let off some of its legal costs after suffering a defeat in the courts.

Yarm Town Council had challenged the legality of Stockton Borough Council’s plan to introduce pay and display car parking on Yarm High Street.

However the small public body lost and now has to find £46,600 in legal costs.

Councillors have been told they have to pay Stockton council £24,200 but at an extraordinary meeting of Yarm Council it was agreed to offer the larger authority £15,000.

A spokeswoman for Stockton Council confirmed the authority is talking with Yarm Council’s solicitors but has not yet reached an agreement on costs.

Yarm Council has already paid out £10,600 to its own solicitors and, after various other deductions already accounted for are made, the authority must still find £30,300.

The council has £8,900 in its general reserves and it’s thought £7,000 could be paid out of that.

It was agreed the Town Hall Refurbishment Fund, which has £38,200, would be hit hardest although it is expected the historic, Georgian hall may need emergency repairs.

Chairman of the council, Jason Hadlow, has argued the Judicial Review was still value for money.

In an email to Yarm borough councillor Mark Chatburn by Jason Hadlow,  the Chairman of Yarm Council, said: “The fact we have delayed Pay and Display by, let’s say, at least six months, has already saved Yarm residents around £260,000. Here’s the maths: 26 weeks at say, £5 a week in parking charges, is £130 a week.

“Let’s say only 2,000 out of the 8,000 residents actually visit the High Street. So that’s 2,000 residents that have saved £130 over six months. That comes to a total saving of £260,000.”

Councillor Chatburn responded in email by saying: “What complete and utter nonsense.

"Many residents of Yarm won’t use the High Street as it is. What on earth makes you think 2,000 will pay to pop in five days a week?”

Both Jason Hadlow and Yarm councillor with responsibility for Highways, Chris Johnson, have received criticism from the rest of the council for not informing fellow councillors there was no insurance in the event of a defeat.

However, Coun Johnson said it was not his responsibility to secure insurance and Coun Hadlow said other members were engaged in a witch hunt.