RESIDENTS are trying to stop a rail operator from implementing car parking charges at their local railway station.

Northern Rail has proposed that Stocksfield could be one of the latest stations where they would have to pay £2 per day for the use of the car park.

A meeting was arranged to discuss details at the Stocksfield Methodist Church on Monday, March 25, and 65 unhappy Stocksfield residents turned up.

Vice chair of Stocksfield Parish Council Tim Hills said: "Northern Rail have claimed that this is to manage demand yet the car park is almost never full to capacity.

"This was pointed out to them at the consultation meeting on Monday night and it was accepted that it could not really be argued that it was demand led.

"65 people attended that meeting showing the strength of feeling. Other local residents were frustrated that work prevented them from doing so – it could have been even more people.

"The £2 is feared to be an initial daily charge. Some Northern Rail car parks are way higher than this... Whitby is £10 per day, for example.

"There is significant concern from local residents that this will inevitably lead to displacement parking as car park users realise that there are a plethora of free places to park on nearby roads and estates.

"The A695 Main Road in unrestricted in large swathes and there is Mount View Terrace, Guessburn, Brumwell Court, Hall Farm Close and The Pastures nearby where parking is free and totally unrestricted. The Bywell road to the rear of the station could be impacted, as could the Broomley Woods car park. All are a short distance and a quick walk from the railway station.

"There is also concern that disabled access to SICA could be blocked by inconsiderate parking and that disabled access to the railway station itself could be blocked by inconsiderate (free) parking to the rear of the station.

"There is further concern for the easy passage of emergency service vehicles on narrow estate roads clogged up with all day commuter parking."

A spokesperson for Northern, said: "We have introduced car park charges at a number of stations on our network in the last couple of years to ensure that our car parking facilities remain available for rail users.

"Costs were set at a maximum of £2 per day. At those stations, we spoke to local stakeholders and user groups about those proposals before introducing the charges – and this is the same process we are currently undertaking at Stocksfield station."

Representations can be made to carparkingconsultation@northernrailway.co.uk until April 12, where a decision will be made after this date and, if it is to proceed, it is expected that the car park will 'go live' on May 27.