Sir, – Further to the correspondence (D&S, Jan 21)about my previous letter regarding the proposed new parking restrictions in Yarm (D&S, Jan 14), last weekend, I came across two parked vehicles that particularly irked me.

Local people are extremely concerned that Stockton Borough Council plans to dramatically reduce the amount of long-stay parking by introducing hundreds of meters of new yellow lines. Despite this, the council officers, who enforce the disc parking zone on our High Street, park on West Street and leave their vehicle there all day; they seem to do this every day. For the number of available spaces to be reduced further in such a way adds insult to injury. If public transport is deemed sufficient to meet the needs of the residents of, and visitors to, Yarm, why then is it insufficient to meet the need of those council employees who work here?

As though this wasn’t bad enough, as I made my way down the High Street, I came across a council vehicle parked on the double yellow lines on the High Street. Regrettably, I do not know the exact duration of the illegally parked vehicle’s stay – I kept an eye on it for an hour before giving up and walking home – but the absence of any parking ticket was conspicuous.

I suspect there are not many people who have parked illegally in Yarm for more than an hour and got away with it.

This is not the example we should expect from the council and its employees while they are persisting with their potentially calamitous parking plans for Yarm.

Coun Gibson may have given up on Stockton’s High Street but I hope he will note that we Conservatives in Yarm have not given up on our own.

MARK CHATBURN Yarm’s Conservative council candidate.

Not proper

Sir, – I read with great interest the new parking arrangements for Yarm (D&S, Jan 21).

Richard McGuckin of Stockton Borough Council stated that the consultation process had been carried out “in a correct and proper manner”. I received my consultation documentation after the closing date for comments/suggestions, something I would prefer to describe as incorrect and improper.

As someone who lives in close proximity to Yarm High Street, who therefore could be affected by the new parking arrangements (eg shop workers parking in nearby residential areas), I am not suggesting any deliberate foul play but perhaps Mr McGuckin should have ensured that the distribution of the consultation paperwork gave time for local residents to offer their views and opinions.

RICHARD LINDSAY Goose Pasture.

Yarm.