Traders' joy as car park fees postponed at East Riding Council-run sites
PLANS to end free unlimited parking in council-run car parks in the East Riding have been put on the back burner.
Moves to start charging motorists at car parks across the county were initially delayed in early 2010 after more than 20,000 people signed protest petitions opposing the idea.
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WELCOME NEWS: Butcher and campaigner Brian Fields at the car park in Anlaby Common. Picture: Peter Harbour
Many traders in places such as Cottingham, Willerby, Anlaby, Pocklington, Hessle and Hedon claimed introducing charges in car parks where motorists currently park for free would drive shoppers away.
At the time, councillors agreed to postpone any implementation for two years and only then if there has been two successive quarters of national economic growth.
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A positive third quarter figure last year raised the prospect of charges being introduced as early as April.
But the final quarter last year showed the British economy shrank by 0.3 per cent, prompting fears of a triple-dip recession.
East Riding Council leader Stephen Parnaby said: "It does mean we will not be introducing charges anytime soon."
Anlaby butcher Brian Fields, who was one of the leading campaigners against the proposed new charging regime, said: "This is good news for local businesses.
"I don't think the council really understood the damage it was going to do by introducing charges.
"I've just opened a deli and café two doors down, employing more local people.
"Being a local businesses can be very tough at the moment because of the state of the economy but the council doesn't seem to take that into consideration when it puts forward proposals like this."
Cllr Parnaby said the council remained committed to the principle of introducing charges – but only when the time was right.
"It is certainly not going to happen this year. It's not part of our budget estimates," he said.
Under the plans, charges would have been a nominal 20p for the first hour in the first year, rising to 50p after 12 months.
Some of the car parks earmarked for the charges would have had free half-hour parking.
Councillors who backed the new charges claimed they would create a "level playing field" across the East Riding because motorists already had to pay to park in places such as Beverley, Bridlington and Driffield.
10 Comments
by holyjoe2
Sunday, February 03 2013, 10:28AM
“If we do not charge for parking anywhere,reduce business rates,lower council tax,give free travel to all on buses to school,free school meals ect Where do people think the money comes from to help the elderly,fill the potholes,pay out those sueing everybody , pay the dustmen,pay the police ect do they think money grows on trees.Don't say from the goverment because they only raise money from your taxes.East Riding council is not perfect but its a lot better than most (we don 't get an equal share out of the goverment pot) AND WE ARE NOT HAVING OUR COUNCIL TAX RAISED LIKE HULL.
joe the wise one”
by archieboden
Saturday, February 02 2013, 8:57PM
“Not only does the East Yorkshire Council want to impose parking charges, but they give planning permission to local retail parks (with free parking) The village/ small town traders
are going to be hit hard. Nothing but another attempt to drain the motorist.
The parking charges will not cover the installation of ticket machines and enforcement. Motorists will also park on streets just outside the pay zones, causing more obstruction and complaints. Just who dreams up this nonsense?”
by AdPotentia
Saturday, February 02 2013, 4:04PM
“Until thick councillors realise that charging for parking drives customers out of town centres the issue remains. With regard to Beverley, the Saturday Market reconstruction (built with blood money from the poor) will do away with much of the parking anyway. In its place a huge white elephant, a memorial to Parnabys councils hubris, incompetence and sheer stupidity.
Perhaps they should erect a plaque.”
by Pete898
Saturday, February 02 2013, 1:37PM
“Common sense has prevailed. Many businesses in Cottingham and Anlaby are on a knife edge. Parking charges could see them go over. Many shop owners are making less them minimum wage and I know this for definite. The council will be back soon enough after cash though just watch this space. You see the bigger problem is councils themselves are out of control they dont care about peoples lively hoods or the local economy, they only care about money for their pensions and money for everything else they is not really the bag of your local council. One thing that they ARE good at though.....cutting down on waste....yes its simple.... all they do is not empty your bin......simples. You can only laugh otherwise you'd cry.”
by charleswelton
Saturday, February 02 2013, 11:57AM
“Anlaby is common.”
by Clem_
Saturday, February 02 2013, 11:21AM
“Anlaby Common. That's not Anlaby Common.”
by KiminHull
Saturday, February 02 2013, 11:14AM
“Does ERYC do anything right first time? Just saying!”
by charleswelton
Saturday, February 02 2013, 10:30AM
“I agree, in order to bring all the shopping locations in line with each other, then all council run car parks should be free. This is what the councillors said regarding paying to park, so it should apply vice versa, remove the parking meters and make it free, fairness for all.”
by stebbsey
Saturday, February 02 2013, 10:05AM
“What about Beverley. It is tough here too. We still have huge parking charges to contend with. Typical of this council, totally unbalanced”
by David_Nivea
Saturday, February 02 2013, 9:52AM
“"I've just opened a deli and café two doors down...", yet at the same time, "Being a local businesses [sic] can be very tough at the moment because of the state of the economy."
The economy is so bad that Mr. Fields has started two new businesses, it seems.
How odd.”