East Riding Council still fails to address the problem of high parking charges 4

Andrew Allison Grassroots

The East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) has announced free parking on weekends for three months, starting in November this year through to the end of January 2012. Although planning ahead for the festive period is not a bad thing – and no-one is going to complain at free parking – what the council has failed to do is address the problem of high car parking charges throughout the county.

I will take the town of Beverley as an example. Beverley is a small market town. Traders have long complained that high parking charges are turning customers away. It is cheaper to park in the city of Hull than it is to park in Beverley, but all the council has done in the past couple of years is kick the problem into the long grass. It did have a car parking review panel, which went to the expense of sending a roadshow around the county, getting residents to fill-in questionnaires on their thoughts about charges. It made its recommendations this time last year. Its decision was to postpone its decision until this year. It did have some unpopular proposals, such as charging in car parks that are currently free, and now the council has decided to postpone a decision on that for at least another year.

The leader of the council, Stephen Parnaby, had this to say:

“I do recognise that many people in the East Riding have no alternative but to use a car to visit our market towns for shopping and services.

“Fuel costs are escalating alarmingly and public transport is not always an option,”

My message to Mr Parnaby is simple: If you recognise fuel costs are rising at an alarming rate, why don’t you do something about the fact car parking charges in the East Riding are too high? Why do you keep postponing decisions? Why don’t you give everyone something to cheer about by reducing the cost of parking in all car parks throughout the county?

If he does that, I will congratulate him. If he wants to boost trade and the number of visitors to the East Riding, this is an ideal way to start.

Andrew Allison

Andrew is the National Grassroots Coordinator, and helps our activists across the country organise campaigns on local issues.

Follow @andrew_allison

http://twitter.com/TheABD Assn of Brit Drivers

People should ensure they do not vote for Councillors who are too pig-headed or stupid to accept that free or low cost parking attracts trade and thus boosts the local economy.

Blarg1987

I would partially agree with you, the only problem I have noticed with free parking, especially buisnesses that do not offer parking for their employees is that the road isusually full with employees vehicles / managers. As a consequence it does not encourage trade.

http://twitter.com/TheABD Assn of Brit Drivers

In such circumstances, free parking should be of a short period, say one hour, with charges set to discourage all day parking whilst encouraging shoppers. All it takes is a bit of common sense.

Blarg1987

I do not think that is possible without a change in the law with regards to parking permits although I may be wrong, as I have not seen any examples of this, it is either free parking or paid parking. Would be interested to know of any examples.