A council has been urged to rethink its car parking policy ahead of potential fee increases, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Bill Edgar.
Latest proposals by Durham County Council include increasing tariffs in Durham City by 30p per half hour and 10p per hour in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland, Chester-le-Street and Seaham.
Residents’ parking permits are also set to increase by 40% and are estimated to generate an additional £565,000 for the local authority. Final decisions on the proposals will be made by the council in February 2026.
However, councillors have warned that the annual increases are unsustainable and are having an impact on town centre footfall.
Councillor Phil Heaviside, Independent member for Lumley and West Rainton, told a scrutiny meeting: “It’s the same places year on year. Isn’t it about time that we should spare Chester-le-Street, Barnard Castle and Durham City, and share the increases elsewhere in Crook, Consett and Stanley instead of just putting the same places up every year?
“Chester-le-Street is a ghost town, yet we’re putting parking charges up.”
Car parking is currently free at sites in Crook, Consett and Stanley.
Members of the council’s Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee suggested a new scheme for visitors.
Cllr Rob Crute, Labour member for Blackhall and Hesleden, said: “It may be that we look at more innovative ways of parking charges, so we could provide free parking for the first hour or two, and then charge after that to get people into the town centres.”
A review was welcomed by cross-party members of the committee.
Cllr Brian Quirey, Reform member for Pelton, suggested looking at a different methodology for car parking. He added: “There are various schemes, including Northumberland and Norfolk, that scrutiny could look at. It needs to be looked at across the whole county.”
Members were told their concerns would be shared with senior leaders.
A price hike between £12 and £24 for parking permits would help generate an additional £40,000, the council said. The council currently charge for car parking permits for residents, their visitors and construction vehicles within controlled parking areas/zones.
Permits were first introduced in 2007 to exempt residents from on-street parking charges and/or parking restrictions.
Defending the decision, Councillor Tim McGuinness, cabinet member for rural, farming and transport, previously said: “This will be the first increase in permit charges since 2015, and taking into account various increases in costs coming forward and the downtrend in income collected, it has become necessary to pass this on at a modest increase of four pence per day, per permit to users of the scheme.”
Bill Edgar
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
