It has now been nine months since Durham County Council introduced parking charges in seven car parks in Seaham – charging motorists £1 an hour or £3 to park all day.
From April to November of 2024, just over £325,000 was made through the charges.
These are specifically from the Seaham Hall Beach, Vane Tempest, Terrace Green, Seaham Marina, Dock Top, Noses Point and Crimdon Beach car parks.
Charges have now been removed from some of the bays at the Terrace Green site after questions were raised during a special planning and environment committee meeting of Seaham Town Council, held on December 17.
However, there are still questions over whether people previously fined for not paying to park there should now be reimbursed.
It emerged during the town council meeting that charges should not have applied to all of the Terrace Green parking bays and that the council “may have taken parking charges from people illegally”.
This is due to third party covenants on the land – understood to have been uncovered by two local residents – putting into question some of the new spaces created by the council that encroach on to land where the iconic Tommy statue is sited.
In the meeting, multiple concerns were raised by councillors – including Councillor Edward Bell, who questioned why the covenant was not seen before the charges were introduced.
He added that fines were handed to motorists who did not comply – and questioned how they would be reimbursed.
Durham County Councillor Kevin Shaw said he has raised this issue with the council multiple times – and believes it has had an impact on Seaham’s businesses.
He said: “I raised two very specific questions at Full Council in December, asking what the financial impact has been for each daytime business in Seaham, located in areas where car parking charges have been introduced.
“The cabinet member told council that as far as businesses were concerned, things had never been better. However, within days two more firms had announced they were having to close.
“I raised the issue as far back as June 2024, when members of the public first believed this restrictive covenant may be in place.
“Countless people have bought tickets, with some being fined. The implications could be considerable.
“There’s also the question of the financial outlay on installing meters, double yellow lines and this area’s car parks – a huge expense and has led to businesses failing.”
Durham County Council told The Northern Echo that the introduction of charges at Terrace Green was “entirely lawful” – but has confirmed that those bays in question have now had those charges removed.
Pictures show the bays with signage beside them confirming they are free to park in.
Bays that are free to park in at the Terrace Green Car Park. (Image: NORTHERN ECHO) Mark Jackson, Durham County Council’s head of transport and contract services, said: “The parking charges at Terrace Green are entirely lawful. They were introduced in strict adherence to the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984.
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“Full consultation was carried out, as required by the act, and the existence of a covenant between two third parties, relating to land outwith our ownership, was not raised during this process.
“However, once the issue was raised, we agreed with Seaham Town Council that charges be removed from those bays which are on land covered by the covenant.
“Charges continue to apply to the rest of the Terrace Green car park, with temporary signs in place so that motorists know the arrangements. We are happy to work with the town council on permanent signs.”