A DEAL has been reached to free up extra parking spaces for shoppers at an edge-of-town retail park.

Northumbrian Water is to let staff working at the Arnison Centre, in Pity Me, Durham City, use its private car park at weekends until January.

It is hoped this will free up more on-site spaces for shoppers.

County councillor Mark Wilkes, who has been working on the deal, said coupled with extra on-site parking it would free up almost 300 extra places.

“There are hundreds of members of staff in need of parking. This reduces space for customers.

“It is excellent that Northumbrian Water, one of the region’s best companies, has been willing to work with us to help shoppers.”

Sue Murray, from the firm, said: “It’s great that we can help County Durham residents have an easier shopping experience this Christmas.”

Shop managers are asked to encourage staff to use the Northumbrian Water car park.

Meanwhile, Workman LLP, the site’s management company, has employed car park marshals to help shoppers find empty spaces over the festive period.

Site manager Andrew Carr said the centre was seeing continuous improvement, with new stores having opened over the past year.

Coun Wilkes said: “Everyone will continue to work hard to ensure that Durham has the best and most easily accessible retail facilities around.

“In addition, by speeding up the time it takes to park and shop it should help to reduce congestion so that local residents find traffic less of an issue than it might otherwise have been in the area.”