The removal of a free car parking scheme across County Durham is to be reconsidered after impassioned pleas to save town centres.
Durham County Council’s free parking after 2pm scheme was introduced to encourage visitors to use town centres and local businesses following the pandemic.
But car parking charges were reintroduced earlier this year, as part of plans to raise more money.
Yet the decision was criticised by residents and opposition political parties, who warned it would have a detrimental impact on town centre trade.
Now, a Labour Party motion calling on the cabinet to reconsider removing the scheme has received unanimous cross-party support, including from Council Leader Amanda Hopgood.
Cllr Richard Bell said: “The cabinet has agreed to review the ending of the free after 2pm parking charges, which came into effect at the end of 2023.
“This cannot be done in time to be put into the council budget this month, but it will be done after that, and the outcome can’t be known at this stage.”
The motion is due to be considered by cabinet at a later date.
Cllr Alison Batey, of Pelton ward, said: “The demise of our high streets is something that affects many of us.
“In the case of Chester-le-Street, many of our banks have gone, some of which have relocated to neighbouring authority areas outside County Durham, such as The Galleries in Washington, where there is free car parking. Birtley has free car parking, Stanley has free car parking and The Arnison Centre has free car parking all putting other towns at a disadvantage. Surely it is not right for such inequalities and inconsistency across the county?”
The Labour member said the new charges are also a ‘tax on leisure’, as charges have been introduced at Seaham and Crimdon coastal sites. “This will no doubt put added pressure on kerbside parking in residential streets surrounding the town centre,” Cllr Batey added.
“How can we expect to see an increase in new business start ups assisting with our business rates income, if those businesses are losing footfall?
“I urge council to reconsider the removal of free after two to assist our town centres and not add to the demise of the high street.”
Councillors also criticised the lack of consultation ahead of the decision, which was enforced on January 1, and say they received no prior warning about the change.
Independent councillor for Chester-le-Street South, Paul Sexton said he repeatedly urged the council to maintain the free scheme last year after speaking to struggling businesses in the town centre.
“Nevertheless, what makes this decision to remove free after two shameful is the fact the joint administration did not consult or forewarn elected members.”
He told a full council meeting how residents are ‘extremely confused’ as to why there are charges in some but not other towns in the county.
Cllr Sexton added: “Businesses are telling us they’re still trying to recover from the impact of the pandemic, let alone the current cost-of-living crisis.
“Councils across the country appear to be doing as much as they can to support their towns and villages, whereas Durham County Council appears to want to pinch the pockets of hard up residents, at a cost to the hardworking shopkeepers and to the detriment of our town centres.”
