Parking charges to be introduced at five car parks on the Northumberland coast

Until now, it has been free to park at Amble Braid and at two car parks in both Warkworth and Cresswell.

Drivers will still be able to park for free for the first hour.

However, at Amble Braid a two hour stay will cost £1.50, three hours will cost £2 and all day will cost £4.

At Warkworth coach and car park and Warkworth Dunes picnic site car park, motorists will have to fork out £1 for a two hour stay, £1.50 for three hours and £3 to park all day.

At Cresswell Dunes and Cresswell Pond, a two hour stay will cost £1, three hours will cost £1.50 and all day will cost £3.

In addition, parking charges are increasing at Turner Street (East) in Amble. It will be £1.50 to park for two hours, £2 for three hours and £4 for all day.

Drivers will have to pay more to park at Alnmouth and Morpeth railway stations. At Alnmouth (northbound), the full day charge will rise from £1.50 to £2.50 and at Morpeth the all day fee increases from £3 to £4.50.

Charges will stay the same in coastal car parks in Holy Island, Bamburgh, Seahouses and Beadnell.

However, there will be an increase in coach parking prices due to come into effect from May.

At Bamburgh’s main car park, Seahouses Station Yard and Holy Island Green Lane, coach parking for four hours will increase from £9.50 to £15 and all day from £13.50 to £20.

Parking charges in country parks at Druridge Bay, Plessey Woods and Bolam Lake will also increase, although the first hour remains free.

Free parking in Alnwick and Morpeth town centre will remain in place, with time restrictions in certain car parks which require the use of a parking disc.

Annual charges for the Northumberland Pay & Display Permit are also amended as per the previously agreed three-year price increase plan, with a 30% rise for the next financial year, along with the Country Park Parking Permit which is to rise by 10%.

A Northumberland County Council report states: “Charges for off-street car parking are set to meet sensible commercial objectives. The car parking charges that are set each year by the council are in response to the demands placed on the existing car parking capacity, the cost to manage, maintain and enforce, where necessary, those car parking facilities.

"The high level of visitors which Northumberland’s coastline, country parks and railway station users attracts each year must be managed and car parking capacity and demand in these locations needs to be effectively managed and this includes the use of parking charges.

"The charges imposed at country and coastal parks are designed to reduce longer stays and to encourage shorter stays which improves the turnover of vehicles, therefore maximising the availability and utilisation of parking spaces, whereas the charges at railway stations are to broadly reflect with those set by Network Rail owned car parks.

"It is anticipated that the increase in revenue will contribute to the maintenance and improvements of the parking facilities and provision throughout Northumberland, providing benefit to both local residents and visitors alike.”