Parking charge removed from Tommy bays

Bill Edgar
Local Democracy Reporting Service
LDRS View down a road with a grassed area on one side and a line of cars parked in bays on the other.  The road ends at a junction, which is backed by a line of terraced houses. The ground is wet and it looks as if it has just stopped raining.LDRS
Parking in some of the bays on Terrace Green is now free

Parking charges have been removed from part of a coastal town after a land dispute.

Durham County Council introduced fees at a number of sites in Seaham, including a section of Terrace Green, a year ago.

However, it has emerged that part of the land next to the Tommy statue was covered by a covenant prohibiting this.

The coalition-led council has now installed signs in the areas which are free of charge, but said it would not reimburse any fines previously issued.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service spoke to June Watson, Seaham Mayor and county councillor for Dawdon, who said: "Durham County Council decided to introduce parking charges, but little did they know, there was a clause.

"People parking in the bays next to the Green can't be charged because it was gifted to the public from Lord Londonderry so the land would be free."

Colin Park/Geograph The Tommy statue shows a giant World War One soldier sat on a trunk. He is holding a gun. It is made out of brown metal and is next to the the green.Colin Park/Geograph
The Tommy statue by Ray Lonsdale depicts a World War One solider and overlooks the coast in Seaham

Mark Jackson, head of transport and contract services at the council, said: "Full consultation was carried out, as required by the act, and the existence of a covenant between two third parties, relating to land outside our ownership, was not raised during this process."

Payment machines have been removed from the areas of the car park no longer subject to charge.

Despite calls from residents to reimburse those fined while parking at the site, the council said motorists would not receive their money back.

Elizabeth Scott, cabinet member for economy and partnerships, said: "The parking charges at Terrace Green were introduced in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, and any fines issued since they were brought in last April will therefore not be reimbursed."

Related internet links