Council decision to remove County Durham free parking questioned

Durham County Council’s Free 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 political parties, who issued impassioned pleas to save town centres. The local authority voted to reconsider the decision in January and a review was conducted but the discount scheme was not reinstated. 

Now, the council has been asked if it consulted communities on the decision. 

Speaking at a full council meeting on Wednesday (October 23), Pelton councillor Danny Wood said: “What feedback from residents [and] elected members was considered in the eight months since the full council voted unanimously for Free After 2pm parking to be reintroduced in County Durham for towns such as Chester-le-Street?”

The local authority received just nine complaints through email, an MP, an online system and corporate complaints. 

Councillor Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said councillors voted to reconsider the move, not reintroduce charges. 

She added: “Car park usage in 2024/25 is expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels. A report was taken to cabinet on September 18, where cabinet concluded that the decision to remove the initiative was the correct decision when reviewed against the available evidence. 

Despite claims that car parking charges cause shoppers to avoid town centres and go elsewhere, the council said removing the scheme had not severely impacted footfall. 

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A review of the scheme read: “The available evidence is almost entirely anecdotal and there is very little published evidence which links changes in car park charges to changes in town centre footfall.

“Reviewing the footfall data from the County Durham main centres with chargeable car parking, there is no discernible change to footfall trends that can be linked to the reintroduction charges after 2pm.”

If the scheme continued, the council estimated it would lose around £600,000 per year. Park and Ride usage also increased when the parking scheme was removed.