Council leaders pledge to resolve parking charges in Yarm

The end of the first hour free parking in the two centres, replaced with a £1.50 charge for three hours in February, was debated at a Stockton Council cabinet meeting last night (Thursday, July 17).

It is being reviewed after just a few months following a petition and council motion calling on leaders to reverse the policy, as businesses said it was harming trade and driving customers away.

Councillor Paul Rowling, the council’s deputy leader and cabinet member for resources and transport, said the original decision was made to end the first hour free because money was needed to maintain car parks.

He said: “We are doing a review, because clearly there are implications if we were to make any changes in this area. This review will cover both Stockton and Yarm and we will be covering data over a six-month period to get a true reflection.”

The council has said its data suggested footfall had increased in the first few months of the charges.

However Cllr Rowling said: “We would like to get a much greater understanding of what this data actually shows because sometimes initial data can be misleading.

“This is going to be a quick review but a worthwhile review. We’ve very much heard what residents and businesses had to say.

We will be meaningfully consulting and talking to partners in both town centres.

“We get this and we are listening and we’re going to act upon it. We’re willing to get involved and speak to businesses in Yarm and Stockton.”

Council leader Cllr Lisa Evans said: “There’s nothing that’s not on the table at the moment. It’s probably one of the main topics of conversation we’ve had over the last few months.

“What we were keen not to do is make a knee-jerk reaction on it. When we came into leadership of the council it was one of the priorities to look at it, and we committed to do that, but we need the data.”

Cllr Lynn Hall said: “I fear that it’s really had a negative impact on our residents and I feel in many ways the cabinet’s response has been too slow. And it is continuing to cause immeasurable harm to health and wellbeing, particularly of our residents.

“They’re struggling with the increased costs. It’s so unfair.

“Both centres are suffering. Urgent removal of a charge for very short stays is essential. It has become almost a health tax for our residents,” she added, referring to the impact on appointments, pick-ups and drop-offs at opticians’, dentists’ and GP surgeries.

She said patients at the new Tees Valley Community Diagnostic Centre off Stockton High Street were having trouble parking: “They are doing thousands of appointments and are doing a fabulous job, and they’re finding it difficult to park in Stockton.”

She said she feared the charges may drive motorists from the Splash leisure centre towards centres with free parking: “Current users of Splash are paying more in parking charges than they’re paying in the £19.50 monthly membership fees.

We must make it as easy as possible for residents to exercise.” Cllr Rowling said “clearly there’s an issue there” highlighted by gym and pool users.

Cllr Evans replied: “I would totally agree with you about Splash users. We’re looking at different ways that we can subsidise. We do recognise that it isn’t viable for a lot of members of Splash to continue going there because of the parking charges.”

Cllr Rowling said: “We get it. We’ve heard from people and we’re looking at it.

“We need to think about what are the potential future implications of any change, to make sure we get this decision right because it’s crucial that we do. We will be moving as quickly as possible to try to come to a resolution.”

Cllr John Coulson, who represents Yarm, said the town’s High Street had a “wonderful continental café culture” and suggested 30 minutes’ free parking, saying: “We are really struggling in Yarm.

“The signage for parking in Yarm High Street is non-existent. It really is bad.

“We have a car park in West Street and lot of people don’t even know it’s there. A lot of people don’t realise you can get an hour free in West Street. Signage has to be addressed.”

Cllr Rowling said he had spoken to someone who said trade had gone up. But he added: “All options are on the table.”