Revised parking charges put forward after backlash

Parking charges in York could be lowered following a backlash from traders and residents to a recent hike.

Prices rose to £4.85 an hour in April, with some businesses saying the increase had had a "significant" impact on their takings as people chose to stay away.

Now under fresh proposals from City of York Council's Labour Group fees for on-street parking outside the city's walls and at the Bishopthorpe Road car park could be lowered to £3-an-hour.

Kate Ravilious, the council's executive member for transport said: "We have listened to feedback over the past few weeks and acted in response."

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, the revised plans include:

• On-street parking outside the inner ring road lowered to £3 per hour and made free in the evening, except in areas near the city centre where charges already apply
• Bishopthorpe Road car park's tariffs cut to £3 an hour in line with those at Heworth's East Parade
• Postponing the removal of free Sunday morning parking in Micklegate ahead of new policies being drawn up
• Charges at Micklegate and Priory Street lowered to £3 an hour, with staggered increases coming over time

Since the hikes were introduced, traders in Bishopthorpe Road said said they had seen a "massive" drop in footfall and a petition opposing the increase attracted more than 8,000 signatures.

Johnathan Cotton, owner of Bang Hair salon on Bishopthorpe Road said the new parking prices were causing customers to arrive "angry and upset".

"The financial impact is real but it's the emotional impact we're finding," he said.

The Labour administration said the hikes come amid forecast budget gaps of up to £10m a year and they would encourage people not to drive into the city centre.

Ravilious said the new proposals would support small businesses and stick to the council's wider transport goals.

"A large proportion of charges will remain unchanged as we reaffirm our commitment to reduce congestion and improve bus service reliability," she said.

"Elsewhere, we propose moving to inner city centre and outer city centre rates for on-street parking, to reflect the importance of community shopping areas outside the inner ring road."

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