THE introduction of free parking in town centres across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool will be launched from Monday to make it easier, cheaper and more convenient for people to support their high streets.

Tees Vally Mayor Ben Houchen is to make parking free for a minimum of two hours up to 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 free parking offer will be launched in Darlington, Stockton and Yarm from Monday, January 11, whilst the scheme will be launched in Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Guisborough from February 1.

The free town centre parking has been introduced to encourage more people to support shops, cafes and other businesses in their town centres and high streets when coronavirus restrictions allow them to safely do so. It will also allow people to access essential supplies and services throughout the national lockdown without the additional costs of parking.

As part of the scheme, the revenue local authorities receive from car parking charges will be compensated, so none of them will be financially impacted and no local services will be affected. Funding for free parking has been allocated for two years.

Mr Houchen said: “I’m delighted that we’ve able to get free parking introduced."

"And I’m pleased to be able to confirm that free parking will begin in the remaining areas in the coming weeks.

“It’s essential that we all follow the national restrictions that are in place – that includes staying at home, protecting the NHS, and saving lives. But my free parking scheme will make it easier and cheaper for those who need to access essential supplies and services over the coming months.

“Our retail and hospitality businesses in our town centres have been some of the hardest hit because of the coronavirus pandemic, so when it is safe for people to return to shops, cafes and restaurants, we need to make it as easy and convenient as possible for people to give them the vital support they need – that is why I have made parking free in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Stockton, Guisborough and Yarm.

“Nobody likes paying for parking and it is one of the main reasons I constantly hear as to why people aren’t shopping in town centres. By making it free, we can increase the number of people visiting our high streets and therefore increase their spending, boost our economy and help support jobs.

“It has been an incredibly sad sight to see shops and businesses closed in our high streets this year, and as we come out of the other side of the pandemic, we don’t want these to remain, so it is more important than ever before that we do everything we can to help them.

“Everyone still wants to see vibrant and thriving high streets that can flourish in the age of online shopping and making it easier, cheaper and more convenient to shop with local businesses by introducing free parking can make that happen.”