New parking charges proposed in city centre car parks

As part of a review of car parking services in the city centre, Newcastle City Council is planning to alter the level of charges drivers will be asked to pay on Sundays and during the evenings.

The proposals include an extension to car parking charges until 10pm in the core city centre area. This would not include the car park at Claremont Road or the Manors and Quayside multi-storeys.

Currently the charge period ends at 6.30pm for on-street bays, at 5pm in multi-storeys and at 6pm at other surface car parks within the city centre. This would be extended to 10pm in all of these core city centre parking locations.

And on Sundays the proposed changes would see the removal of the £3 per day fixed charge at car parks within the core city centre area, with drivers instead being required to pay the standard hourly rate. Car parks outside of the core city centre area will not be affected by the proposals.

The changes are designed to help manage demand for parking and support measures being introduced in the city to improve air quality and help promote and encourage more sustainable travel choices.

Cllr Ged Bell, cabinet member for development, neighbourhoods and transport at Newcastle City Council, said: “The proposals we have set out reflect the need to manage and respond to changing demand for car parking in the city centre.

“We’ve not only seen changes to the way in which people travel, work, shop and spend time in the city centre since the pandemic, but also a change to the way in which businesses are operating.

“We must also take into account the need to reduce air pollution and our carbon footprint – both of which are greatly affected by the volume of traffic on our roads.

“We’re continuing to work with neighbouring councils and public transport providers to deliver network and service improvements for people travelling into Newcastle from our residential neighbourhoods and the wider region.”

Notices setting out the proposed changes and details on how people can respond will be published and displayed in car parks from late November.

People will have 21 days to submit comments in response to the proposals once they have been advertised in the Journal and when the notices have been placed at each location. All feedback will be considered before a final decision is made.

Any changes are subject to the statutory consultation process and, if they go ahead, would not be expected to be introduced until early next year.