Skip to content
  1. Do it online
  2. Login
  3. Have your say
  4. My Durham

Find out about changes to our services and Christmas opening times on our Festive information page. To find out when your bin will be collected over the festive period, visit Changes to County Durham bin collections at Christmas.

Due to maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 11.45am on Tuesday 24 December until 8.00am on Thursday 2 January: our online Council Tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Free after 3.00pm will be in operation from Monday 16 December 2024 until Friday 3 January 2025. This will be in place in all Durham County Council town centre car parks, including all car parks in Durham, Chester-le-Street, Bishop, Seaham and Barnard Castle excluding Hardwick Park, Wharton Park, Chester-le-Street Riverside car parks, Noses Point and all on street pay and display bays which will remain chargeable.

From 15 April 2024, for approximately six months, we will be extending Sniperley Park and Ride, having won central government funding to do it. The work will create 262 new spaces, including 29 disabled bays, 18 electric charging bays and four motorhome bays. The Park and Ride service and surrounding roads will not be affected. 

Sniperley Park and Ride (PR1)


Sniperley Park and Ride site (PR1) is located approximately 400 metres north of the A167/A691 junction

Opening times and bus frequencies

Car parks are open from 7.00am to 7.00pm, Monday to Sunday including bank holidays (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day). Buses run every 15 minutes.

  • The bus leaves Sniperley Park and Ride at 06, 21, 36 and 51 minutes past the hour. The first bus is at 7.06am and the last bus is at 6.36pm. 
  • The bus leaves Belmont Park and Ride at 00, 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour. The first bus is at 7.00am and the last bus is at 6.30pm.

Where the buses go

Sniperley to Belmont route stops at:

  • Aykley Heads, University Hospital of North Durham
  • County Hall
  • Wharton Park
  • Leazes Road Underpass (Stand B)
  • Belmont Park & Ride

Belmont to Sniperley route stops at:

  • Leazes Road, Milburngate Bridge
  • Milburngate (Stand D)
  • County Hall
  • Aykley Heads, University Hospital of North Durham
  • Sniperley Park and Ride

How much it costs

Parking at the park and ride sites is free for all users, providing you use the park and ride bus service to leave the site for your onward journey. With a day pass, you can park until 7.00pm, and get unlimited travel on the park and ride buses for the day. 

You need to buy a ticket from the park and ride site. The ticket machine will take coins and cards (including contactless) but will not take notes. You can also pay via contactless on our buses.

Be aware that parking at the sites is only for people using the park and ride buses. The sites close at 7.00pm and cars cannot be left overnight. Breaking these rules may result in you receiving a parking ticket.

Type of ticketCost / when it can be used

Adult (16 years and over)

  • Day pass - £2.20

Child (five to 15 years old)

  • Day pass - £2.20 when unaccompanied
  • Day pass - free when accompanied by a paying adult over 21 years old

Infant (up to four years old)

  • Day pass - free

Concessions (issued in County Durham)

  • 50p before 9.30am, Monday to Friday
  • Free after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays

Concessions (issued elsewhere in England)

  • £2.20 before 9.30am, Monday to Friday
  • Free after 9.30am Monday to Friday, and all day Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays

Pop Pay As You Go (PAYG) card

  • Day pass - £2
  • View Popcard Pop Shop for information on how to apply for a Pop PAYG card.

Student

  • £1.10 with a valid Durham University student ID. Boarding at Howlands Park and Ride site only,

Intertrip

  • £1.10 for a single journey, when you board from a stop that is not a Park and Ride site. The journey can end at any stop.

Where the Park and Ride sites are

Sniperley, DH1 5AA - approximately 400 metres north of the A167/A691 junction

What facilities there are

Dogs are allowed on our buses as long as they are on a lead.

Our secure parking sites are fully covered by CCTV as well as regularly patrolled by security. You can also leave your details with the site operator and we'll contact you if there's any problem with your car, such as the lights being left on.

There are 4 electric vehicle 7.4kW charging points on site.

Advertise with us

With buses running 12 hours a day, in and out of a bustling city, advertising on our park and ride buses can really boost your business. See our Park and Ride advertising page for more information.

Safer parking award

All of our park and ride car parks have achieved Park Mark, the Safer Parking Award. This means that they have been assessed by the police and have measures in place to deter criminal activity, creating a safer environment for both you and your vehicle.

Report a problem with a car park

Report a problem with a council car park

Safer Parking Award

In partnership with

  • Safer Parking Award


Share this page

Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Facebook Share this page on Twitter Share this page on Twitter