A total of £325,445 was raised from the five car parks along the coastline of Seaham, according to a Freedom of Information Request.
Since April 2024, motorists have been paying £1 an hour or £3 to park all day in the Seaham Hall Beach, Vane Tempest, Terrace Green, Seaham Marina, Dock Top, Noses Point and Crimdon Beach car parks.
The highest amount made so far was more than £65,000 in August at the height of summer.
Reacting to the sum, Durham County Councillor Kevin Shaw has called it a “staggering” amount of money – as he argues the charges have had a detrimental impact on the town’s small businesses.
He said: “It is a staggering amount of money – and it’s money that has been taken away from Seaham.
“The parking charges are closing businesses in a very small area which is having a massive impact on the local economy.
“The charges are taking a huge amount of money from people who are coming to the town.”
However, the council have argued that the charges have not damaged businesses and instead have clarified where the funds are being used.
A Durham County Council spokesperson said: “Introducing charges brought us into line with a large number of other councils nationally and regionally that provide coastal parking.
“Nevertheless, we limited them to seven locations in Seaham, with free parking still available at many other sites around the town centre – all of which are not far from the popular seafront and marina.
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“We also kept our charges affordable, at £1 per hour and £3 for a full day.
“Evidence shows that the parking charges do not appear to have been damaging to Seaham. The town currently has the lowest retail vacancy rate in County Durham, with this much lower than the national average. We’ve also seen new businesses opening along the seafront since the charges were introduced.
“All money raised from parking charges is reinvested into maintaining and improving car parks, transport-related projects and highway improvements across County Durham, including at Seaham.”