'Ghost town' fears after free parking promotions are scrapped by Hartlepool Borough Council
A campaigner has called for a “rethink” over recently introduced changes to charges at town centre car parks amid concerns businesses could be negatively impacted.
The “free after 3pm” parking promotion in Middleton Grange Shopping Centre’s multi-storey, basement and east side car parks came to an end on Monday, June 1, with charges now applying until 6pm.
Free Sunday parking is also no longer in place across Hartlepool Borough Council on-street and off-street parking sites and a charging structure has been brought in to bring the day in line with the rest of the week.
The decisions were made as part of the council’s budget for 2026-27 put forward by the then ruling Labour administration and which unanimously supported by all councillors in attendance at the decision-making meeting.
Free parking on Saturdays throughout December was also scrapped.
Local authority chiefs said the moves reflect a requirement for the car parking service to generate additional income to “offset the decision to freeze core council tax”.
Yet Liberal Democrats locally have raised concerns the move could lead to the shopping area becoming “a ghost town”.
Connor Stallard, a campaigner for the party in Foggy Furze, said he is “really disappointed” by the decision and warned it could “drive away” customers from local businesses who “are already buckling under the weight of tax rises”.
He added: “It’s the last thing our town needs. I’ve been across town this week talking to local businesses, and the feedback from them is they’re really concerned.
“From the conversations on the doorsteps, it’s clear local residents want easier access to our town centre, and these charges risk driving trade away and turning Hartlepool into a ghost town.
“I’m calling for an urgent rethink on these charges so we can ensure local residents and businesses can benefit.”
Local authority reports stated removing the parking promotions would save £60,000.
A council spokesperson said: “These changes form part of the council’s 2026-27 budget which was approved earlier this year.
“The chargers reflect a requirement for the car parking service to generate additional income to offset the decision to freeze core council tax.”
The parking offers were initially due to be removed a year earlier as part of 2025-26 budget plans before being saved after the council received a “positive” local government finance settlement.