Councillors John Beynon and Glen Sanderson at the carpark site

Work on track for station parking improvements

Work is underway to create extra parking at Morpeth Railway Station.

While the station’s popularity continues to grow, with increased rail users and services, it is placing some additional pressures on parking in the surrounding area. 

In response the county council is taking a number of steps to address the issues. In summer 2019 it secured planning consent to create a new 27 space car park on land to the south of the station buildings.

Construction is now underway and will last around 12 weeks  - with teams working to keep disruption to a minimum. 

While there will be no loss of spaces within the existing car parks during the works, the confined nature of the development site means it will necessary for a one-way system to be in operation on Coopies Lane from 8am to 4pm each day. Under the one-way system it will only be possible to enter Coopies Lane from the A192 Shields Road, with exit being through the industrial estate via Coopies Way onto the A196. 

Work will also be starting soon on the old Goosehill School site to convert it into a public car park following the school’s relocation to Loansdean.

Councillor Glen Sanderson, Cabinet Member for Environment and Local Services, said: “Morpeth Railway Station is a growing success story and we’re working to ensure there’s improved facilities in and around the station to cope with increasing demand. 

“We’ve already introduced a maximum 72 hour stay restriction in our car park at the station to help tackle the issue of people ‘garaging’ cars in the station car park and prioritise the use of available spaces for daily commuters.

 “The new car parking will create a great deal of extra capacity and we ask for people’s understanding and patience while this vital work takes place.”

Morpeth Stobhill County Councillor John Beynon said: “This is great news for rail passengers from Morpeth and the surrounding area. Any extra capacity at the station and improved parking controls in the surrounding area has to be welcomed as the increasing popularity of the station means it’s only going to get busier over the coming years.

“I’m pleased the council is also considering some extra on-street parking controls in the area around Ash Banks and Station Cottages at Allery banks as I’m only too aware of localised issues being caused as a result of indiscriminate parking by rail users.

“The council will be consulting residents on these proposed measures in due course.”
View all news