A REPORT into a year-long experiment to cut parking charges has concluded there is no evidence to link retail performance to parking tariffs.

Ryedale District Council's community services and licensing committee cut the charge to park in Malton's Wentworth Street car park from £4.50 a day to £1.50 a day to see if it would help businesses.

Phil Long, the authority's commercial services manager said during the trial, council income from charges had reduced by almost 19,000.

Just 20 per cent of 316 businesses responded to a questionnaire on the issue, and 77 per cent of those who did reply had not noticed or did not know if footfall had increased.

Mr Long said: "The trial has failed to meet the criteria of success laid out.

"Responses to the questionnaire indicate that the trial had little noticeable impact on turnover or footfall.

"The findings of this report support the conclusions reached by the Car Park Strategy document, the Renaissance Market Towns research and the planning and development committee as far back as 1998 and 1999.

"There is no evidence to link retail performance to parking tariffs and length of stay restrictions.

"A town's offer is the primary factor in a town's competitiveness and customer attraction.

"The three main factors that affect demand are the relative strength of the attraction offered, the amount of available space to park and the close proximity of parking."

Councillor Paul Andrews, ward member for Malton and a leading supported of the cut-price parking, said it was a distortion that car parking charges did not make a difference to a town's economy.

"Nearly a quarter of the businesses which were canvassed seemed to think the reduced charges had been to their benefit," he said.

The issue of parking charges is becoming increasingly controversial in North Yorkshire. Hambleton District Council is currently consulting on plans to introduce charges in Northallerton, Thirsk, Bedale and Stokesley.

The proposals have angered traders, who fear businesses will be hit.

A consultation meeting will take place at the Civic Centre in Northallerton at 6pm on Thursday, February 14.

The meeting has been called after traders said most businesses had not been properly informed about an earlier consultation event on January 21.