A major shakeup to scrap free evening parking in Newcastle has finally taken a step forward, while hourly fees across the city are also set to rise.
It was revealed last year that the long-standing offer of cost-free parking in popular council-run multi-storeys in the city centre after 5pm, under the Alive After Five banner, was set to be axed early in 2022. The changes would mean that the Eldon Square, Eldon Garden, Dean Street, Oxford Street, and Grainger Town car parks would keep charging until 10pm, as would all on-street parking bays and surface car parks within the core city centre.
After the announcement last November, there had been no sign of progress on Newcastle City Council’s plans. But, four months later than scheduled, a public consultation on the scheme has now been launched – with less than two weeks now left for residents to have their say on the scheme, which the local authority says will help “manage demand” for parking spaces and cut air pollution.
