New car parking charges are being introduced across the North East.

Durham County Council and Newcastle City Council have both decided to increase charges in spring.

Durham city parking: 

The Northern Echo: The Sands car park in Durham City is one of many affected by the change

On and off-street parking measures were approved by Durham County Council this month despite protestations about the impact on people visiting Durham city.

The council believe the changes at council-owned car parks will reduce traffic and emissions.

Prices for on-street parking are due to rise from 20p-80p a half hour to 30p-90p between 8am-6pm.

For off-street parking, charges at all council-owned car parks will also rise. New prices will see visitors pay up to 20p more per hour, including Sundays, at The Sands, Providence Row and Sidegate.

The changes will be enforced from April 1.

County Durham coastline - visitors will be paying up to £3 a day:

The Northern Echo: People will have to pay at the Crimdon Dene car park under the plans

Car parking charges will also be introduced along the Durham coastline despite thousands of objections.

From April visitors to sites in Seaham and Crimdon will have to pay up to £3 per day during their stay. 

Durham County Council hope that the charges will increase footfall in commercial areas such as Church Street.

However, of the 2,928 objections - around 98 per cent - one of the most pertinent concerns was the impact the charges will have on local businesses.

From April 1, visitors will be charged £1 per hour or £3 all day to park at the following sites: 

  • Seaham Hall Beach 
  • Vane Tempest
  • Terrace Green
  • Seaham Marina
  • Dock Top
  • Noses Point 
  • Crimdon Beach 

Darlington car parking:

The Northern Echo: Darlington parking

In June 2023 car parking charges were introduced at council-run car parks across Darlington after two years of free stays for two hours. Peter Gibson, Conservative MP for Darlington, launched a petition to save the scheme but it has yet to be reinstated.

Bringing back free car parking in North East town centres is one of Tees Valley mayoral candidate Chris McEwan's key policies.

Newcastle city parking:

The Northern Echo: Newcastle parking

Parking at council run car-parks within Newcastle will also increase in April by 20p. There will also be a 10p per hour increase at car parks outside of the Clean Air Zone.

Newcastle County Council hope that the measures will generate an extra £1m of funds as well as easing congestion.

At car parks that offered a fixed daily rate, with the exception of Kingston Park and the Manors multi-storey, there will be a £1 increase in that tariff.

The council will also be upping the charges at Paddy Freeman and Castle Farm car parks, despite not being in the CAZ, by 20p an hour to deter people using them when visiting the nearby Freeman Hospital.

One car park where prices will drop is the Garage at the Newcastle Helix development, which will see a 20p reduction in its hourly rate and a new £9 all-day tariff introduced.

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Labour councillor Marion Williams, who holds the transport portfolio in the council’s cabinet, previously said: “We review our parking charges each year to ensure that we are effectively managing the demand for spaces and the flow of traffic, particularly around our busier city centre car parks.

“The changes we are planning to introduce from April 2024 will help us to strike a balance between encouraging the use of more active and sustainable travel, reducing congestion on key city centre public transport routes and ensuring the city continues to have sufficient, convenient and safe parking facilities for those who need them.”

The changes will be in place from April.