Whether it's going slightly over the time you've paid to stay or taking a risk and parking for a few minutes where you really know you shouldn't, most drivers are familiar with that sinking feeling when you spot the dreaded yellow slip on your windscreen when you return.
More than eight million Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) are dished out every year in the UK, and between March 2022 and 2023, over 30,000 were issued to motorists by Durham County Council.
Durham’s drivers have been caught out 84 times a day on average, according to a Freedom of Information request by Durham-based vehicle finance specialists Anglo Scottish Asset Finance.
Read more: Parking tickets: do you have to pay up if you get a fine?
The figures show Durham’s worst streets to be caught out on for a bus lane infraction, overstaying your welcome in a car park or parking on a double yellow, and it appears that 'bus gates' - short section of road blocked off to all traffic except buses, cycles and taxis - are Durham motorists' weak spot, with the two biggest earners from the council coming from bus gates on North Road in the city centre and Front Street in Framwellgate Moor.
If you've been detected by the CCTV cameras illegally using a bus lane, bus-only street or bus gate, a PCN for £70 will be issued, reduced to £35 if paid within 21 days. You have 28 days to pay it. The cost of parking fines depends on what you have done - fines are £50 or £70 and if you pay within 14 days, the cost will be reduced by 50%.
The worst street for parking offences was Old Elvet, where 997 tickets were issued and car parks at popular tourist locations in County Durham such as Barnard Castle and Hardwick Park in Sedgefield also featured in the top locations for parking tickets.
Dan Reavley, head of vehicle finance at Anglo Scottish, said: “With road layouts changing all the time, it’s important that drivers stay up to date with the latest changes, or else they could easily be hit with a fine. This data shows that bus gates are the biggest issue for Durham motorists – and with new ANPR cameras installed in key locations, there’s no getting away with a wrong turn. Always make sure you pay for your parking, but be extra vigilant on these streets to make sure you get back to the car in time!”
The places were the biggest numbers of tickets were issued were:
North Road, Durham (bus gate) – 4,932 tickets
North Road, near Durham railway station, is by far the worst location for motorists to be caught out. Running adjacent to Wharton Park, North Road is home to the Garden House pub and offers access to St Cuthbert’s Church. It seems motorists are still unaccustomed to the bus gate, which was introduced in 2017 – a massive 4,932 tickets (16% of all tickets issued) were issued there between March 2022 and March 2023.
Front Street, Framwellgate Moor (bus gate) – 1,040 tickets
Framwellgate Moor’s Front Street, comes in at number two on this list. Home to a number of independent and chain businesses, Front Street’s bus gate was fitted with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at the start of 2022. Though drivers were informed of this change via letter in December 2021, it doesn’t seem to have helped – 1,040 tickets were issued for drivers who passed through the bus gate.
Old Elvet, Durham – 997 tickets
The worst street for Durham drivers – in terms of on-street parking, at least – is Old Elvet, the street linking Whinney Hill and New Elvet. Old Elvet is home to Hotel Indigo, and has the Half Moon Inn at one end. There’re plenty of parking spaces here, however, so it seems that drivers must be caught out missing their ticket window. A total 997 tickets were issued here.
Cornforth Lane, Coxhoe – 589 tickets
The village of Coxhoe, southeast of Durham, is home to another hotspot for PCNs. It’s a tight street, with plenty of dropped kerbs and on-street parking. It’s also home to Coxhoe Primary School, which makes it a dangerous place to park where you shouldn’t be. On average, there were two drivers caught here everyday.
Howlands Park and Ride, Durham – 581 tickets
Parking in Durham city centre can be tight – so for people living outside of the city, a park and ride can be a good alternative. Located by the Josephine Butler and Stephenson Colleges of Durham University, Howlands Park and Ride offers a great way to park outside of town, but it’s also a hotspot for parking tickets, with 581 issued here.
Claypath, Durham – 566 tickets
Claypath, the city centre street leading to Gilesgate, is another hotspot for parking tickets. It’s home to a number of independent businesses, many of which have Loading Only bays outside. It’s easy to see how drivers could be caught out here, with 566 tickets issued on this street between March 2022 and March 2023.
Galgate Car Park, Barnard Castle – 682 tickets
If you’re fancying a day trip out to Barnard Castle then be warey of Galgate Car Park. The tourist-friendly location sees plenty of visitors year-round, but drivers are commonly caught out here – there was 682 tickets issued here between March 2022 and March 2023.
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Hardwick Park, Sedgefield – 680 tickets
Another location for a great day out has proven to be one of the most popular places for drivers to be hit with a parking ticket. Hardwick Park, south of Durham, is a Visit England-accredited country park, and is popular with local families. It must be easy to lose track of time in there, however, since 680 tickets were issued to drivers in the car park between March 2022 and 2023.
Dave Lewin, Durham County Council’s strategic traffic manager, said: “We have a firm but fair approach to all parking and traffic enforcement and there’s a clear and well-established appeals process for anyone who wishes to challenge a Penalty Charge Notice. This includes the option of referring the case to an independent adjudicator.
“The bus gates are on some of our busiest routes and are there to make it easier for public transport to run as reliably and punctually as possible. They are clearly marked and signed and the overwhelming majority of drivers manage to avoid using or obstructing them.
“We also carry out targeted enforcement to tackle the most serious parking offences, such as those that put people’s safety at risk or where bays designated for residents, businesses and people with disabilities are being misused, as these offences have more impact on people’s lives. Any surplus money raised from fines is put back into maintaining transport infrastructure across the county, including subsidising bus services or funding schemes for drivers, cyclists and pedestrians.”
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