Durham County Council HQ site opened up as free car park for NHS and other key workers during crisis

Durham County Council (DCC) had already announced charges would be scrapped at all its on and off-street public car parks during the COVID-19 outbreak.

And this has also been extended to include the car park at Durham County Hall, the county council’s Durham City HQ, just a few hundred yards from the University Hospital of North Durham (UHND).

Susan Robinson, head of corporate property and land at DCC, said: “We have made the car park at County Hall available to all key workers, but due to its location to the north of the city, the site is most convenient for staff and volunteers working at UHND.

“There are currently a small number of hospital staff using the car park for this purpose.

“Key workers based in the city centre are more likely to take advantage of the free on-street parking now available after we waived fees at all our parking bays across the county to support those carrying out essential roles.”

Although council chiefs have made car parks free, they hope the facilities will be mainly taken by key workers, with other travellers urged to ‘be sensible and to please stay away’ from the county.

Bus and train services in the county are operating on reduced timetables and Durham City’s park and rides have been suspended, although the car parks remain open.

Coun Mark Wilkes, whose Framwellgate and Newton Hall division includes County Hall and UHND, said: “I’m delighted that we are now helping NHS staff in this way and I urge our local Trust and indeed everyone to get the message out there.

“The easier we can make it for our amazing NHS team the more time they will have to save lives and look after themselves.”

The DLI car park, next to County Hall is still open as usual, with free parking available between 9.05am – 7.30pm, Monday – Friday. The car park is closed with barriers outside these hours.