A SPECIAL notification has been issued by a council following confusion surrounding a new pay and display scheme.

In a press release Stockton Borough Council made clear that motorists parking on Yarm High Street can still park for free for one hour.

The notice was issued after several people said it wasn't clear the first hour was free and it was hard to work out how to get the free ticket.

Pay and display parking was introduced on Yarm High Street on Monday, April 28. Parking is free for the first 60 minutes then just £1 for the next two hours and £1 per hour after that, with no maximum stay. Parking charges will apply from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, but will not apply on Sundays or Bank Holidays.

Councillor Mike Smith, Stockton Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “We appreciate that there was some confusion at first with the new system and have taken on board comments received from businesses as well as visitors and shoppers over the past week. We have amended the signs on the pay and display machines to make the instructions clearer.”