500% parking hike 'will tackle congestion blight'

A 500% increase in the cost of parking in part of York is justified as part of attempts to tackle the "blight" of congestion, a senior councillor has said.

Fees at Bishopthorpe Road's car park have been increased from 80p an hour to £4.85 by the city council.

A petition opposing the rise claimed it was "unreasonable, unaffordable and damaging" to retailers on the street and has attracted more than 5,600 signatures.

Kate Ravilious, the council's executive member for transport, said parking prices had been raised across the city as part of plans to try and reduce the impact of congestion.

"No matter what way you travel into the city everybody is finding their journey blighted by congestion," she said.

"You are stuck in a traffic jam if you are in your car, the buses are unreliable because of extreme traffic, many people don't feel comfortable or safe walking or cycling because there's so much traffic."

The £4.85 fee between Sunday and Thursday rises to £5.30 on Friday, Saturdays and days when events are held and applies across all city centre car parks and on-street parking areas.

Ravilious said the pricing was designed to reflect the cost of a bus ticket, adding that one in four households in the city did not have access to a car.

She said if they could cut congestion then buses "start moving" and cycling and walking become "more realistic" options for people.

Bishopthorpe Road is known for its independent shops and restaurants, and won Great British High Street of the Year in 2015.

Joe Nasson, co-owner of eco-pantry store The Bishy Weigh, set up the petition and said retailers on the street were seeing the impact.

"Already the car park is empty, which means we are getting less customers and the council aren't earning what they want to from the car park."

He said an empty car park was "unheard of".

Mr Nasson said the petition called on the council to engage with traders, community groups and residents to find a solution that "supports sustainable travel without punishing everyday people".

Ravilious said she accepted the increase was a "big jump" as Bishopthorpe Road had been one of the few areas of the city where parking fees were "exceedingly low".

She also said a survey by Bishopthorpe Road traders a decade ago had found only 20% of customers came by car.

Ravilious insisted the charges were essential to get motorists to consider alternatives and doing nothing was not an option.

"We are trying to redress the balance," she said.

"The congestion in the city centre is throttling the city, it is throttling businesses, it is killing people in terms of air pollution and it's preventing everybody from getting around."

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