Free hour's parking in town centres is agreed

IT'S 'NOT A U-TURN' JUST THE 'RIGHT THING TO DO'

- By GARETH LIGHTFOOT [e-mail] @TeessideLive

LEADERS have officially agreed to bring back the first hour of free parking to Stockton and Yarm town centres, saying: "It's the right thing to do.

Council leader Cllr Lisa Evans said it was the right decision to return to the first hour free, aborting parking charges which had attracted opposition from residents and businesses.

She said: "You may call this a U-turn. I don't think it is a U-turn.

"It's not being afraid to change your mind.

"And it's about doing what we feel is right," she told a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

"I'll be honest, it was one of the first things when I became leader, I came to [deputy leader] Cllr Rowling and brought the review forward, not because we were forced to do it, because it was the right thing to do.

"This leadership team and cabinet are not afraid to change our minds on things and listen to people. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing."