PARKING charges in North Yorkshire towns are to be kept at last year’s levels in a bid to attract shoppers.
Harrogate Borough Council has announced no increase in parking charges in Ripon, Pateley Bridge and Knaresborough.
The council will also not be bringing in charges for any of the authority run car parks which are currently free.
In Harrogate drivers using the Victoria multi-storey car park will pay an extra 10p an hour but all other car parks in the town will remain at last year’s charging levels.
Councillor Don Mackenzie, cabinet member for planning and transport, has backed the move.
He said: "The council does rely on income from off-street parking to support a wide range of services we provide but businesses rely on shoppers and we need to attract them to our towns.
"Through good financial management, the council has introduced a budget that will see no reduction in council services whilst, at the same time, allowing us to keep parking charges at last year’s costs."
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