MOTORISTS may soon see a 50 per cent increase in car parking charges across Richmondshire as the district council strives to make savings in its mid-term budget.

The authority will vote on the prospered increase of parking in car parks in the district on Tuesday at its full council meeting, but has already been approved by the corporate board.

However, independent councillors Cllr John Blackie and Cllr Stuart Parsons have reacted in anger at the proposals which they say is an attack on local people, tourists and businesses.

Cllr Blackie said: “To increase the cost of an hour’s parking in Hawes, Richmond or Leyburn from £1 to £1.50 is just outrageous.

“The council is making these communities that depend on people parking in their car parks for a thriving economy go through austerity for austerity’s sake.

“The figures show that the council has £1.7m in reserves – the fact is that reserves do nothing to bolster a thriving economy, you have to spend the money.”

The corporate board, in setting its medium term financial strategy, looked at fees and charges as part of its budget setting process, and wherever possible charges have been increased by four per cent.

The council expects to meet a target of £48,200 additional income, and the efficiency plant “assumes above average increases in car parking income of £20,000 each year for 2017 to 2018 and 2018 to 2019.

The report added: “Rather than increasing tariffs two years in a row it is proposed to make the increase in one year, effectively achieving the 2018/19 target early.

“Operationally this makes sense as car parking tariffs are in 50p denominations and changes to signage and ticket machines only needs to take place once. Given that the changes are in 50p denominations the changes are always a significant percentage increase. It is worth noting that the last time prices were increased was in 2014/15 and it isn’t expected they would increase again until 2019 to 2020.”

One, two and four hour tariffs, as well as all day tariffs, will go up by 50p, and parking permits will increase by £10 a year.

The overall the impact of proposals is an increase in income of £71,000.

Cllr Blackie added: “If they had to make an increase, why couldn’t they have just raised it by 20p? It seems more palatable and affordable. 50p is a massive step up, and tourists may not want to return.”

Cllr Blackie has invited district council director Colin Dales to the next Hawes and High Abbottside Parish Council meeting to discuss the charges, as well as issues with toilets in the town.