Durham City’s free on-street parking to end this month – here’s when

The changes will see free afternoon on-street parking in pay and display bays, which is currently free, come to an end.

Durham County Council say they are still offering free parking after 2pm at their off-street council car parks across the county, however.

It will come to an end at the end of this month and from Saturday, April 1, normal charges will apply to all on-street parking.

It comes as earlier this month politicians clashed over calls to reinstate free parking across town centres after charges were reintroduced by some councils in the region. 

Read more: Councils reintroduce parking charges in Tees Valley but not Darlington

In 2021, Mayor Ben Houchen provided Tees Valley Combined Authority funding to make parking free for a maximum of three hours in council-run car parks in each of the five Tees Valley main town centres – Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Stockton - as well as a number of car parks in Guisborough and Yarm. 

The funding, which had been allocated for two years, was to encourage more people to support shops, cafes and other businesses in their town centres and high streets to give them a much-needed boost when coronavirus restrictions were lifted.

The funding ran out at the end of 2022, and councillors from across political parties have signed the letter asking for funding to once again be provided to support a free parking offer in Hartlepool.

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Backed by all thirteen Labour councillors, three Conservatives and two independents, the first letter called the withdrawal of free parking coming at “the worst possible time” amidst the cost-of-living crisis.

Mark Jackson, head of transport and contract services at Durham County Council, said: "Free afternoon parking was introduced in April 2021 to support the city's recovery from the pandemic. Reintroducing charges will help to manage when people choose to visit the city and will help us to deliver both environmental improvements and health benefits.

"If you're visiting the city, we'd also ask that you consider using public transport or our Park & Ride to help reduce congestion and improve air quality."