Work to prepare roads and bays in a County Durham seaside town before parking charges are installed later this month is ramping up.

Motorists who visit Seaham will be charged £1 an hour and up to £3 a day to park from April 15 under new measures from Durham County Council who have implemented charges in seven car parks.

The new measures introduced by Durham County Council are to bring Seaham "in line" with other North East coastal destinations that already charge for parking.

The Northern Echo: Machine for motorists to pay at in Seaham Hall Beach car park.Machine for motorists to pay at in Seaham Hall Beach car park. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

Despite thousands of objections, the charges were voted through by the council in February.

The car parks which will see signs installed are:

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

The Northern Echo: Double yellow lines on North Road.Double yellow lines on North Road. (Image: CHRIS ALLMAN)

Eagle eyed residents have recently seen council workers in and around the town preparing the car parks for the new measures, including marking out bays for cars and installing machines where customers to pay.

Now, double yellow lines have been marked out along North Road in bays that were previously free to use.

UPDATE HERE: Painting of double yellow lines stopped short of County Durham homes after concerns raised by residents

Elsewhere, signs have been posted notifying residents that parking has been suspended and the machines that will be used by people to pay are currently covered in a yellow tarp.

Mark Jackson, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, said: "The introduction of parking charges in six car parks on Seaham seafront will bring it into line with the rest of the car parks along the North East’s coast, where charges are already in place.

The Northern Echo: Double yellow lines on North Road.Double yellow lines on North Road. (Image: CHRIS ALLMAN)

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"The charges, which will apply to all, will be £1 for up to one hour, or £3 to park all day. There will still be free car parking in numerous other car parks around Seaham town centre, all of which are a short walk from the seafront.

"Parking charges are widely used to control parking availability and support the commercial viability of town centres and attractions by increasing turnover of spaces in areas where there is high demand.

"They improve parking availability for residents and visitors, and in turn, increase the number of people coming into communities and spending money. They also help lower emissions and improve local air quality."