Parking charges plan at beach car park approved in move that's 'against public opinion'
A parking charges plan at a beach car park have been approved.
Visitors to Crimdon Beach Car Park, on the outskirts of Hartlepool, will now have to pay £1 per hour or £3 for a full-day stay. It follows a recent vote by the Highways Committee, privately and under delegated powers, sparking fear the charges will drive away tourists, reports Chronicle Live.
A council spokesman said: "Following the Highways Committee's vote in favour of a traffic regulation order to introduce pay and display parking restrictions at Crimdon Beach Car Park, we can confirm that a decision has been made under delegated powers to bring the order into force."
The spokesperson said it will bring the area in line with other coastal parking sites. They added: "We were the only local authority in the North East to offer free parking in coastal car parks. While charging brings us in line with many other councils, nationally and regionally, we have kept the cost affordable, at £1 per hour or £3 for a full day."
Although it has not been announced when the new fees will begin, the council has committed to updating the public soon.
The council added further context: "The charge will help reduce the chances of the car park being over-capacity during busy periods which can result in congestion and visitors leaving to go to other destinations. We are also introducing double yellow lines to prevent obstructive parking, which has been a problem at Crimdon. By effectively managing available parking spaces through these measures, we can help visitors access the coastline and encourage return visits. A higher turnover of visitors during the day can also increase footfall for local businesses."
At a Highways Committee meeting last September, Councillor Rob Crute expressed his concerns, stating that the proposal "the proposal flies in the face of reason and public opinion" and that "the council is determined to drive tourism and visitors away."
Councillor Kevin Shaw also highlighted the negative impact of similar charges in Seaham, saying: "I don't think charges will necessarily deliver what it says on the tin. I live in Seaham and I've seen the impact that the car parking charges have had."
He added: "I've seen how parking has been displaced and is causing even more problems than the car parking charges were initially intended to deal with. It won't resolve the problem it will just create another."
Despite these concerns, the council maintains that the new charges and double yellow lines are necessary to address inappropriate parking, pointing out that it is the only North East council to have offered free coastal parking until now.
For breaking news in your area direct to your inbox every day, go here to sign up to our free newsletter