Park charges review could see big changes in North Yorkshire

North Yorkshire Council is considering a fresh set of tariffs that would take effect from April 1 across its 170 car parks as part of efforts to create a unified, self-sustaining parking system.

Councillor Malcolm Taylor, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, said: "The changes to parking charges are part of our vision for a unified system that is consistent for everyone.

"We have carefully reviewed the charges to ensure they deliver the best possible value while enabling the service to remain financially self-sustaining.

North Yorkshire Council is considering new parking tariffs from April 1 that would apply across 170 car parks as part of plans for a unified, self-sustaining system. (Image: NYC)

"In many cases, our rates are more affordable than privately managed car parks and are competitive with those set by neighbouring authorities."

The council has pledged £2.4 million to upgrade its parking infrastructure.

Of this investment, £2 million will go towards upgrading all 430 pay-and-display machines, including the installation of 'ticketless' units in 150 car parks and the improvement of signage.

A further £400,000 will be used to improve lighting by replacing outdated lamps with efficient LED technology.

The council has also announced that blue badge holders will be able to park for free in all of its car parks following discussions with disability groups.

This means charges will be lifted in the three former district council areas where they currently apply.

Other key elements of the proposal include extending charges to cover evenings and Sundays in locations where these do not already apply.

An additional fee is also planned for second permits in existing residential parking zones, reflecting the rise in households with multiple vehicles.

Cllr Taylor said: "We strive to improve our parking services to provide a better customer experience.

"We are investing in replacing parking machines which will be more environmentally friendly to save money and be more reliable."

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting between Cllr Taylor and Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director of environment, on Friday, February 27.

Last month, plans to procure a single mobile parking app provider was approved, to deliver countywide coverage and make the current system simpler for motorists.

Currently, multiple app providers are in use due to legacy agreements from former district and borough councils.

The move to a single provider is designed to make parking payments simpler, allowing users to pay for parking at any council-run car park using one app.

In addition, the council’s executive members agreed to adopt a set of parking principles to ensure a consistent, fair, and forward-looking approach to parking.

The aim is to replace a patchwork of inherited policies from the county’s former district and borough councils.

The first phase of this plan involves the current review of parking tariffs.

This will be followed by the development of town-specific parking strategies over the next year to reflect the unique needs of different communities.

The council has stated that while it wants a more consistent and equitable system, it recognises that a one-size-fits-all approach is not suitable for every location.