Council Faces Accusations Over ‘Illegal’ Parking Charges in Seaham
Durham County Council is under fire for allegedly imposing unlawful parking fees in Seaham
Seaham, Durham, Parking Charges, Council, Illegal Fees
Seaham: It’s been about nine months since Durham County Council started charging for parking in seven car parks around Seaham. They’re asking drivers for £1 an hour or £3 for a full day.
From April to November 2024, they raked in over £325,000 from these charges.
The money came from places like Seaham Hall Beach, Vane Tempest, and Crimdon Beach car parks.
Recently, some charges were lifted at the Terrace Green site after folks raised concerns during a town council meeting on December 17.
But there’s still a big question about whether people who got fined for not paying should get their money back.
During the meeting, it was revealed that not all parking bays at Terrace Green should have had charges, leading to claims that the council might have charged people illegally.
This issue popped up because of some third-party agreements on the land, which two local residents discovered. It’s causing a stir, especially since some new parking spaces seem to overlap with the area where the famous Tommy statue stands.
Several councillors voiced their worries, including Councillor Edward Bell, who wondered why the council didn’t catch the covenant before rolling out the charges.
He pointed out that fines were given to drivers who didn’t pay and asked how they would be reimbursed.
Durham County Councillor Kevin Shaw mentioned he’s brought this up with the council several times, believing it’s hurting local businesses.
He said, “I asked specific questions at Full Council in December about how these charges affected daytime businesses in Seaham. The cabinet member claimed everything was great for businesses, but just days later, two more shops announced they were closing.”
Shaw added that he raised concerns back in June 2024 when people first suspected the restrictive covenant might be in play.
“Many folks have bought tickets and some have been fined. The fallout could be significant,” he said.
He also mentioned the costs of putting in parking meters and double yellow lines, which has been a huge expense and is contributing to business closures.
In response, Durham County Council told The Northern Echo that the charges at Terrace Green were “entirely lawful” but confirmed that the charges for the disputed bays have now been removed.
Photos show the bays now have signs indicating they’re free to park.
Mark Jackson, who heads transport and contract services at Durham County Council, stated, “The parking charges at Terrace Green are entirely lawful. They were introduced following the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.”
He added that they did consult as required by law, and the existence of the covenant wasn’t mentioned during that process.
“Once the issue came up, we agreed with Seaham Town Council to remove charges from the bays covered by the covenant. Charges still apply to the rest of the car park, and we’re putting up temporary signs to inform drivers. We’re open to working with the town council on permanent signage,” he said.