A TEMPORARY car park on the site of a former car showroom has been granted permission to continue until a new multi-storey car park for Darlington is in place.

The car park off the St Cuthbert’s Way ringroad – described by planning officials at Darlington Borough Council as ‘rather untidy but well used’ – had its temporary planning permission renewed for a third time, for 18 months.

The car park is a privately run pay and display facility on empty land vacated when a large car showroom was demolished several years ago.

A delegated report explaining the decision notes that use of the land as a car park is not part of the council’s long term parking strategy.

The report adds: “However car parking provision in the town is in a state of flux with the loss of spaces at the DfE site, the imminent loss of spaces on the cinema site and the not yet available spaces in the proposed multi-storey car park.

“It is anticipated that the new multi-storey car park will be available within 18 months, after which a more permanent solution at St Cuthbert’s Way would be more appropriate.”