New bid made to keep free parking in Northumberland

Nov 20 2009 by David Black, The Journal

ACTION taken to reduce the impact of car parking charges on recession-hit town centres across England has been seized on by campaigners fighting to retain free parking in part of Northumberland.

Labour MPs Ronnie Campbell and Denis Murphy are battling to ensure a wide-ranging review of parking strategy by the county council does not result in the imposition of charges in towns such as Blyth, Cramlington, Ashington, Bedlington and Newbiggin.

Now Mr Campbell is holding up the actions of councils in other parts of the country as evidence that charging has a damaging effect on the local economy and traders.

He says in recent months, parking charges have been reduced – or measures taken to ease their impact on the town centre – in Southampton, Swindon, York, Mansfield, Colchester and Plymouth.

Mr Campbell, who has collected more than 7,000 signatures on a petition to retain free parking in south east Northumberland, says this shows it would be foolhardy to consider bringing in charges here.

Despite Northumberland now being one unitary authority, motorists can park for free in Blyth Valley and Wansbeck while having to pay as much as £1.10 an hour in towns like Berwick, Seahouses, Alnwick, Morpeth and Hexham.