Controversial seaside parking charges start

Controversial parking charges will come into force at Seaton Carew today (May 5).

Hartlepool Council planned to introduce the charges from the start of April but a delay in the delivery of 15 new pay and display ticket machines forced it into a re-think.

The supplier was unable to meet its original timescale owing to the introduction of a new £1 coin which left it facing a huge backlog of work in respect of adapting existing pay and display ticket machines up and down the country.

The charges at Seaton Carew, which will apply in the Coronation Drive, Rocket House and Coach Park car parks, will be £1 for up to 2 hours, £1.50 for up to 4 hours and £2 for all day.

Some residents and businesses have complained about the move, fearing it it will put off visitors and affect business takings.

They are being introduced on an experimental basis and are part of a Parking Plan which aims to address a range of traffic issues - including parking on pavements and on the chevrons in the centre of the road on The Front - that affect businesses and people’s safe enjoyment of Seaton Carew.

The Parking Plan also includes resident-only and business parking permit schemes and a clock disc system that limits parking in the car park within Seaton Park to 1 hour.

A series of public consultation meetings will be held over the summer ahead of a review of the Parking Plan at the end of October.

All are welcome and views expressed at these meetings will be fed into the review which will determine the permanent car parking arrangements for Seaton Carew.