City authorities have been urged to reintroduce free parking in the city center after a drop in visitor numbers.

The scheme, which ran in Darlington after 2pm, was discontinued in July last year because the local authority, led by the Labor Party and Liberal Democrats, said it was unsustainable.

Data for the period from July 2023 to March this year showed an average monthly increase in visits of just over 1.1 million – that is, by over 97,000. per month less than a year earlier.

Conservative critics say businesses have suffered as a result, but Labor says people are staying in the city center for longer periods of time.

Conservative councilor Jonathan Dulston, who represents Eastbourne, said: “Since the council rejected this offer we have seen businesses close, visitor numbers fall and the council have had no plan to save the town centre.

“My message is clear – wake up, listen and accept that you are wrong. Bring back free parking and give our small businesses a chance.”

Buyers who recently spoke to Local Democracy Reporting Service said the fees prevented them from visiting retail parks more frequently, which is more convenient.

Jean Bowman said: “If you go into town to shop, you have to pay for parking before you go to the store and there’s no telling how long you’ll be there.

“This means you either rush to shop to get there on time, or you have to pay for extra time you don’t use.”

But council leader Stephen Harker of the Labor Party accused Dulston of being “simply wrong – and the data shows he is wrong”.

“His false claims will only cause damage to our city center.

“Visitority data is only part of the picture. “Importantly, they don’t tell us how long people stay on each visit.”

He added that guests came less often, but spent more time in the city center.