Free parking coming to an end in Stockton
A free parking scheme brought in to encourage more people into a town centre is coming to a end.
Council car parks in Stockton have been offering free parking for up to three hours for the last two years, thanks to money from the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA). However the funding has now run out.
The car parking charges will change from next week. Some will still offer free parking for an hour or £1 for three hours.
Councillor Mike Smith, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “Up to three hours’ free parking was introduced in council-run short stay parking areas in 2021 to encourage more people to shop in town centre businesses. This was funded by the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) but is now coming to an end.
“As a result, the parking charges will be reintroduced from Monday, February 13. For people parking in Stockton town centre and Yarm High Street there will still be free parking for 60 minutes or £1 for 3 hours in many council car parks and parking areas.”
The TVCA funding was given to all five Tees Valley councils in 2021 to subsidise free parking in town centres for two years. It was designed to help high street businesses recover from the impacts of Covid where footfall dropped dramatically.
Officials say the parking funding from the TVCA was always earmarked to last for two years and has now reached its natural end. Some councils, such as Darlington, have put in money from their own budgets to extend the schemes.
Redcar and Cleveland Council rowed back on the introduction of controversial car parking charges last month after a backlash against the plans. Council leader Mary Lanigan said it had listened to the public and feedback received from council members, prompting the U-turn from her cabinet.
An open letter signed by Conservative MPs Jacob Young and Simon Clarke and six Tory members on the council had said the plans were “short sighted” and an “appalling idea” at a time when the increasing cost of living affected people’s ability to make ends meet.
People have reacted to the Stockton parking news online. One person said: “It was good while it lasted. Having said that, £1 for three hours parking is good.” Another said: “Still great value for money!”
One responded: “What a way to encourage people to the town eh. Your (sic) killing more businesses than people that you are encouraging to the town. You should be so proud of yourselves.”
And one person remarked: “Keeping at £1 for three hours is a risk to bus companies who already have their single fares capped at £2. I’d rather people were made to pay £5 all day.”
The Stockton charges will be as follows:
Off-street parking at Hume Street, Bath Lane North, Municipal Buildings, Bishop Street, High Street The Shambles, High Street Sun Inn, West Row and Prince Regent Street: free for one hour or £1 for three hours then £1 for every hour after; On-street at Norton Road North, Yarm Lane, Park Terrace and Bridge Road: 20p for 30 minutes, £1 for one hour (maximum stay); On-street at Prince Regent Street and Bishop Street on-street: 20p for 30 minutes, 50p for one hour, £1 for two hours (maximum stay); On-street at The Square, Church Road and Maxwells Corner: 20p for 30 minutes (maximum stay); On-street at High Street (taxi rank): 50p for 30 minutes (maximum stay); On-street at Yarm High Street: free for one hour or £1 for three hours (maximum stay and no return within three hours).