By james art Durham County Council’s free after 2pm scheme was introduced to encourage visitors to use town centers and local businesses following the pandemic. But parking charges were reintroduced earlier this year as part of plans to raise more money.
Yet the decision was criticized by residents and political parties, who made fervent calls to save city centres. The local authority voted to review the decision in January and a review was carried out but the discount scheme was not reinstated.
The council has now been asked if it has consulted communities about the decision.
Speaking at a full council meeting on Wednesday (October 23), Peloton councilor Danny Wood said: “What feedback from residents [and] elected members has been considered in the eight months since the whole council voted unanimously to reintroduce free parking after 2pm in County Durham for towns such as Chester-le-Street?’
The local authority received only nine complaints via email, MP, online system and corporate complaints.
Councilor Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy, said councilors had voted to review the move rather than reintroduce fees.
She added: “Car park use in 2024/25 is expected to exceed pre-pandemic levels. A report was tabled to Cabinet on 18 September, where Cabinet concluded that the decision to scrap the initiative was the right decision when reviewed against the available evidence.
Despite claims that parking charges are causing shoppers to avoid town centers and go elsewhere, the council said the removal of the scheme has not had a major impact on footfall.
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An overview of the scheme states: “The available evidence is almost entirely anecdotal and there is very little published evidence linking changes in parking charges to changes in town center footfall.
“Looking at footfall figures from the main centers in County Durham with paid parking, there is no discernible change in footfall trends that can be linked to re-entry charges after 2pm.”
If the scheme goes ahead, the council estimates it will lose around £600,000 a year. Park and Ride use also increased when the parking scheme was abolished.