Worries over proposed parking charges for Middlesbrough park
There's concerns over plans to charge people for parking around Middlesbrough's Stewart Park
Concerns are being raised over plans which could see a new parking charge introduced at Middlesbrough's Stewart Park.
It's one of several measures being proposed by the cash-strapped Middlesbrough Council, but some local councillors are worried about what the daily £2 charge would mean for the area.
It would also see the introduction of Resident's Parking Permits in the surrounding streets, which it is reported, would be introduced at £25 for the first one and £40 for any additional permits, while NHS workers and official carers would be charged £10.
The streets potentially affected will be considered during the council’s Budget public consultation.
Plans to charge visitors £2 to park at Stewart Park have been met with concern from local councillors.
The daily car parking charge would also require the introduction of a resident parking permit scheme in nearby streets, says Middlesbrough Council. The streets potentially affected will be considered during the council’s Budget public consultation.
The scheme is one of a raft of measures proposed by the cash-strapped local authority. As reported, new residents’ parking permit charges will be introduced at £25 for the first one and £40 for any additional permits, while NHS workers and official carers would be charged £10.
Regarding the parking charge plans at Stewart Park, Dorothy Davison, Marton East councillor, said: “It’s concerning and I would like to know more details. ” Her fellow Marton East councillor Cllr Jason McConnell said: “We wouldn’t want parking charges to be in the park.”
A local resident, who did not want to be named, said: “I know the council is short of money but the park is used by a huge number of families and this will either put them off or potentially cause parking problems in nearby areas such as Marton Manor. It could also hit successful events like Parkrun where lots of people attend every week – often spending money in the cafe.”
A Middlesbrough Council spokesperson said the proposal to introduce the charge at Stewart Park would bring it in line with other attractions around the Teesside area. And they would not come into effect until the 2025/26 financial year.
“It is estimated it would raise around £60,000 in revenue annually, and is being considered as part of a budget which proposes £14m in cost savings to help the council continue to deliver essential services like social care for children and adults,” he said. “The proposal will go to public consultation alongside other budget measures next week and if agreed, consultation on a residents’ parking scheme would be undertaken in nearby streets to protect against park users leaving their vehicles in residential areas.”
It comes amid plans to close the Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, within Stewart Park, with exhibits and artefacts moved to the Dorman Museum and museum staffing costs reviewed. All the Budget proposals are subject to Executive approval at a meeting on Wednesday, December 20, while public consultation will start on December 21 and end on January 18.
In a Facebook post, chairman of the Captain Cook Birthplace Trust, Martin Peagam, said the priority of the trust is to secure the future of the museum and the collection within the museum. “We are acutely conscious that in just five years time we will be celebrating the 300th birthday of arguably the greatest explorer the world has known – a local boy from humble origins who rose to achieve international fame through hard work,” he said.
“We are looking forward to welcome visitors from all over the world in 2028. The council are to consult on all the budget proposals but we are already in discussion with councillors and officers to explore the options going forward.
“I am heartened by the support for the museum shown on Facebook but would humbly suggest that it may be helpful if people wished to write directly to the Mayor, to Middlesbrough Council, to local politicians and to the local media expressing their views.” He noted that Captain Cook died in February, the same month the executive will meet to make decisions on the budget proposals.
“Let not that be the date that the museum also dies,” he said. Simon Clarke, Conservative MP for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland, is also opposing the proposal to close the museum and a potential rebrand of Captain Cook Square.
The square in the town centre is undergoing a huge revamp and, in a Facebook post on Monday, bosses at the shopping centre reported it would now be known as, simply, The Square. Earlier this week, Middlesbrough Council was accused of trying to cancel connections with Captain James Cook, the Marton-born 18th century explorer.
Sir Clarke said “plans to cancel Captain Cook” amount to “disgraceful and spiteful cultural vandalism”. He added: “It is inconceivable to me, and I am sure to the vast majority of our town, that anybody running Middlesbrough Council would ever dream of removing Cook’s legacy from the town.”
Middlesbrough Council has insisted the two moves are not linked and said the Mayor Chris Cooke and his executive were not consulted on the rebrand. The council said the announcement, which has now been taken down off Facebook, was made “prematurely” and the rebrand will be reviewed with residents having their say.