IS pedestrianisation the cause in the decline of Darlington’s core town centre?

Would a commercial rate free period of five years reverse the decline?

We must help our town centre businesses blighted by no on street parking or we shall lose them. Darlington people want to step out of their cars and walk straight into the shop they are visiting so out of town shops are coping well against online competition.

Aren’t businesses of all kinds starting up to be found in streets where people can still park right outside the shop or office they want to visit?

Would admitting very small cars and electric cars into the pedestrianised town centre after 2pm or 3pm help the town centre recover? The imposition of a 10 mph or 15 mph speed limit could make it all work along with number plate recognition technology.

We will lose our flagship retailers from the town centre forever unless something is done quickly and soon.

Nigel F Boddy, Darlington