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Search the Public Notice PortalTwo Teesside town centres are set to bring in one-hour of free parking over Christmas amid a review into the “reckless” scrapping of the permanent scheme.
Residents and businesses feared the town centre would be “killed off” after Stockton Council ended the one-hour free parking in Yarm and Stockton earlier this year.
The authority instead brought in a £1.50 charge for the first three hours, which was met with backlash from independents that rely on grab-and-go culture.
The council, following a motion in May to reverse the decision in Yarm, has since launched a review into the decision’s impact, asking residents and businesses to give their opinions.
While the consultation continues, the council has announced that the first hour of free parking will be reintroduced over the Christmas period in both town centres.
This will be brought in in short-stay car parks from November 24 to January 31.
Councillor Paul Rowling, deputy leader of the council and cabinet member for resources and transport, said: "The council’s cabinet made a commitment to review the impact of the removal of the first free hour of car parking after a period of time.
"As part of this review, we want to hear from residents, local businesses and visitors to both Stockton and Yarm about what this has meant for them.
"We appreciate their concerns about parking charges, as well as enforcement and long stay parking.
"We have met, and will continue to meet, with businesses to listen to their views."
Around three months after the changes were made, The Northern Echo spoke to businesses and residents about its impact, with some branding the first month of trading after the change as “shocking” and “not fair”.
The manager of popular sandwich shop Crumbs, lifelong Yarm resident Sue, said it had a “big impact”: “There are Boyes, Savers, Sainsbury’s in Yarm, these are bigger companies, but a lot of little independents are the people struggling.
The council said the decision to remove the free hour was made to help cover the costs of maintaining and managing car parks, while still aiming to keep the borough's town centres attractive to shoppers and visitors.
A public survey is now open on the council’s website until October 13.
Cllr Rowling said: "We are aware that the Christmas trading period is a very important time for businesses in our town centres who rely on a successful festive trade.
"To give them some certainty about the arrangements over the Christmas period, while we carry out the review, we will be offering the first hour free in both Stockton and Yarm short stay car parks from 24 November until 31 January.
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"This will also give us the time we need to consider the survey responses alongside the data.
"All of the information gathered will inform a thorough and detailed review which will help us consider future charging arrangements."
The review of the findings will be considered by the council’s cabinet in December.
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