On 13th September 2006 Durham County Council provided the following information:
The Council has a length restriction on its pay and display bays on street in Durham City which would be likely to restrict larger motorhomes.
There are dedicated bays on all three Park and Ride sites. There are no height restrictors. Toilets are proivided at all sites but there is no facility for waste disposal. Vehicles are not allowed to park overnight in any of the Park and Ride sites, but all sites are accessible for motorhomes and disabled persons.
There is more information on the Park and Ride service Here.
Durham County Council have parking details/links for the county on their web site.
Chester-le-Street
On 20th September 2006 Chester-le-Street District Council provided the following information:
The following car parks are managed by the District Council:- Civic Centre, Lucy Street, North Burns, Wilfrid Street, Cricket club, Osborne Road, Foundry Lane, Middle Chare, Low Chare, St Mary’s, Cone Terrace, Youth Centre, Burns Green and Leisure Centre. There are also some additional car parks within the town centre area which are privately owned - see web site link below.
1. None of the car parks managed by the District Council have height restrictions.
2. Vehicles are required to park wholly within the confines of a marked bay and if they overhang an additional bay, they would be required to pay for two parking bays.
3. There are public toilet facilities located at Foundry Lane Car Park (a charge of 20p per visit is payable). There are no specific waste disposal facilities at any of our car parks, other than litter bins, however, glass, can, paper, shoe and textile banks are located at Foundry Lane Car Park.
4. There are no spaces specifically for motorhomes or caravans.
5. There is no sleeping or camping permitted in any of the Council’s car parks.
6. There are no specific access restrictions however Lucy Street, Low Chare and St Mary’s car parks are located on fairly steep banks so may be unsuitable for caravans.
On 11th October 2006 the Council provided the following information:
Please find detailed below the information requested in respect of the Riverside car parking facilities at Chester le Street.
There are no height restrictions.
Vehicles are required to fit within the bay confines, if larger they need to use the larger bays located in the coach park.
Public toilets are available on the north side of the site, in addition waste bins are located all around the site and emptied on a regular basis.
The coach park provides appropriate parking for motorhomes and/or caravans.
There is a ban in place on overnight parking.
There is no restriction on access or egress.
Chester-le-Street District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Darlington
On 6th September 2006 Darlington Borough Council provided the following information:
1. Height restrictions. Most of our car parks have height restrictions in place whereby an overhead gantry limits the height of vehicles to below 2.14 metres. However, there are no restrictions on the Town Hall, Park Lane and Chesnut Street car parks. A map showing car parks in the town can be viewed on our website (see below).
2. Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear). All vehicles parked in our car parks would be required to park within the marked bays and smaller motorhomes should be able to do this comfortably. It may not be possible for larger motorhomes to use two bays to avoid overhanging as many of our bays are not designed back-to-back In this case we would suggest that the vehicle be parked in the Chesnut Street car park, which has bays for larger vehicles, such as HGVs. Longer motorhomes could also park in the short stay on-street spaces as they are not divided into individual bays.
3. Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities. The Council does not provide toilets and waste disposal facilities in its car parks. There are public toilets operated by the Council in the market place under the indoor market, which is only five minutes walk away from most of the town centre car parks.
4. Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans. There are no spaces in council car parks specifically designed for motorhomes. However, Chesnut Street car park has a number of larger bay sizes suitable for heavy goods vehicles and motorhomes, which are available on a 24-hour basis. Motorhomes can park in this car park overnight at a charge of £3.
5. Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking. There is currently no ban on overnight parking and no immediate plans to introduce such a ban. All of the council's car parks (with the exception of East Street) are open 24 hours, seven days a week.
6. Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances. The overhead gantries would effectively restrict access to most of the car parks. There are no other restrictions on the 3 car parks mentioned in the response to question 1.
On 9th April 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed that the above information was still current and added the following information:
Chesnut Street car park has recently undergone substantial refurbishment, which has involved resurfacing, new markings, improved pedestrian routes and signage and the introduction of CCTV. The car park is a long-stay 24-hour car park and the overnight charge is now £4 per vehicle. There are no restrictions on eating or sleeping in the vehicle other than the requirement to buy a ticket for the appropriate length of time.
Darlington Borough Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
January 2007. The Town Hall car park may have no height restrictions but I wouldn't recommend using it with anything but a small motorhome as there are tight bends and little room for overhang. Chesnut Street, on the other hand, is great - plenty of room and only a few minutes walk from the town centre.
Derwentside
On 9th October 2006 Derwentside District Council provided the following information:
Derwentside do not allow motorhomes and caravans to park up overnight in their off street car parks, there are caravan parks within Derwentside into
which they can book.
The off street car parks currently have no width or height restrictions which would stop these vehicles from parking during the day to allow visits to the area.
Currently all off street car parks operated by Derwentside DC are free.
Derwentside District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Beamish
Open Air Museum; Post Code DH9 0RG; Longitude 01 39 26 W; Latitude 54 52 53 N; Approach from A693; Coach/Caravan/MH specific parking.
(Thanks to AL for providing this information on 11 September 2007).
Durham City
On 2nd October 2006 Durham City Council provided the following information:
The City Council currently has four open air car parks, none of which have bays designated for long vehicles. Of the four, only Sidegate has end-to-end bays. If the vehicle is too long for a single bay then two tickets must be bought. However, during busy times, it is unlikely that two bays would be available together.
In reply to your other questions, there are: no height restrictions; no access restrictions; no restrictions on overnight parking; no facilities for the disposal of toilet waste.
Rather than looking for parking in the City Centre, visitors driving motorhomes might consider using the Belmont Park and Ride site (see link at the top of this page).
Durham City Council have further details on their web site Here.
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
1) We've just come back from a few days at Durham. I telephoned the P & R service to ask which one we could park our motor home at and the lady said that there is provision for motor homes at all three P & R sites. We used Belmont as it was nearest to our site and sure enough there are dedicated bays with MOTOR HOME/CARAVAN painted on the floor - brilliant!! (Thanks to BG for providing this information on 1 October 2007).
2) We have just returned from a few days in Durham. To visit the City itself we parked at Howlands (to the South of the City) where there are six bays marked motorhome and caravan. We parked there and paid £1.70 return to the City Centre. No parking fee. The bus ticket also allowed us to take another bus up to the Cathedral and Castle. Otherwise a steep walk! Reassuringly the bus driver told us that all the park and ride car parks in Durham have security cameras. Everything is new and clean too. The Tourist Information in the City Centre gives excellent service as well. Very impressed we will return. (Thanks to BL for providing this information on 16 November 2007).
Easington
On 20th October 2006 Easington District Council stated "The main responsibility for parking provision and highways within Easington District lies with the County Council, however, we do own a couple of small parking sites, but none of these have provision for Motor Homes. We do not have any parking amenities which are subject to Pay and Display, therefore have not entered into a licence agreement to operate suitable facilities for Motor Home Users at these sites.".
Users of this web site have provided the following information:
Crimdon Dean, near Hartlepool. Parking is free all day, perfect for a wonderful beach. Great view of the sea for picnic. Latitude: 54.727098509779715; Longitude: -1.251668930053711.
Blackhall Rocks, Blackhall. Parking on top of the cliffs is free all day, perfect for walks and a wonderful beach. Great view of the sea for picnic and you pass a very good chip shop on the road to the parking place. Latitude: 54.74139542674255; Longitude: -1.2695646286010742.
Dalton Park retail village, Murton. Large free parking lot for the Dalton Park retail village. Plenty of spaces (have not used on a weekend though), plenty of bargains. Latitude: 54.814387048135394; Longitude: -1.3738059997558593.
Seaham Promenade. Free Cliff top car park, overlooking the sea, good spot for a picnic or a walk along the Promenade into Seaham for shops and bars. There are steps down to the beach where there is another walk, along the lower Promenade. You can also park free, along the road between the car park and Seaham but the van rocks when busses pass by. Latitude: 54.84655900239094; Longitude: -1.339108943939209.
(Many thanks to RG for this information, received on 21/22 March 2007).
Sedgefield
On 2nd October 2006 Sedgefield Borough Council provided the information that the Authority has no car parks under its ownership although in the Borough there are two owned by town Councils at Aycliffe (Great Aycliffe town council) and Spennymoor (Spennymoor Town Council).
On 14th January 2007, requests for information were sent to Great Aycliffe and Spennymoor Town Councils.
On 15th January 2007 Spennymoor Town Council stated: "You are incorrectly informed we do not own or manage any car parks."
On 27th March 2007 an officer of Great Aycliffe Town Council rang to say that the only car park the council owned (other than private car parks for its own vehicles) is an overnight lorry park not available for general use.
Teesdale
On 26th September 2006 Teesdale District Council provided the following information:
1) Height restrictions - None
2) Requirements for parking within bay confines (including any requirement for purchasing two parking tickets where the length of a vehicle means that it overhangs a second bay at its rear – No specific longer bays provided (proposal to do so). If bay length insufficient, would need to park in (and pay for) two spaces.
3) Any provision of toilet and waste disposal facilities - Yes
4) Any provision of spaces specifically aimed at motorhomes and/or caravans - None
5) Any provision for (or ban on) overnight parking – Order specifically prohibits overnight parking.
6) Restricted access caused by narrow roads/entrances - No.
On 8th May, 2008, in response to a follow-up request, the Council confirmed that the above information was accurate for Galgate Car Park, Barnard Castle (adjacent to Morrisons Supermarket) but that Hole in the Wall Car Park (Queens Street, Barnard Castle) can not be used for motorhomes due to its suitability.
Teesdale District Council have further details on their web site Here.
Wear Valley
On 1st November 2006 Wear Valley District Council provided the following information:
The Council does not provide car parks specifically designed for motor homes. I attach for your information a list of public car parks provided by Wear Valley, together with the charges (this has not been scanned for loading to this web site as the car parks are listed on the Council's web site (see link below)). In relation to your specific questions I reply as follows:
1. The Newgate Centre and South Terrace car parks are subject to height restrictions of 2m.
2. In all car parks vehicles are required to park within the limits of marked bays. Where the vehicle extends into a second bay then an additional ticket must be purchased and displayed. Officers make a judgement on the circumstances of any overhang at the rear. The judgement is based on obstruction and safety grounds.
3. There are no toilet or waste disposal facilities provided at any site.
4. No specific provision is made for motor home and/or caravan parking.
5. An order is currently being considered by the Council which would prohibit overnight sleeping in vehicles. Overnight parking is not specifically prohibited except in the Newgate Centre which is closed at 6.00 p.m. each evening.
6. The Newgate Centre is accessed by a curved ramp. Victoria Avenue is accessed by narrow roads with tight right angle bends.
Wear Valley District Council have further details on their web site Here.
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Last updated: 9 April 2008