Council rethink end of free parking after outcry

Councillors have said they will reconsider plans to end free parking after 14:00 in County Durham

Plans to end free parking after 14:00 are to be reconsidered after pleas to save town centres.

Durham County Council introduced the free parking scheme to encourage people to return to town centres after the pandemic.

But parking charges were reintroduced at the start of the year in an effort to raise more money for the council.

Councillor Alison Batey urged the council to scrap parking charges so as to "not add to the demise of the High Street".

A Labour Party motion calling on the council's cabinet to reconsider removing the Free After Two scheme received unanimous cross-party support, according to the Local Democracry Reporting Service.

Mrs Batey said that areas such Chester-le-Street are suffering because of the afternoon charges.

She said: "Birtley has free car parking, Stanley has free car parking and not forgetting The Arnison Centre with free car parking, all putting Chester-le-Street at a disadvantage. 

"Surely it is not right for such inequalities and inconsistency across the county?"

She added that the council would lose out on business rates income if businesses lose footfall due to the charges.

Councillors criticised the lack of consultation on the parking fees, which came into force on 1 January 2023.

Councillor Paul Sexton claimed some member of the public found out via Facebook.

The motion to reinstate free parking after 14:00 is to be considered by the cabinet at a later date.