Archive - Friday, 23 February 2001


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8500 sign for free parking

RYEDALE residents have given their overwhelming backing to calls for free parking, business leaders claim.

A district-wide petition calling on Ryedale District Council bosses to abolish charges has been signed by more than 8,000 people, Ryedale Business Action has claimed.

But one district councillor has poured scorn on the petition's results claiming those who signed were misled.

The petition was launched in cafes, shops and public houses in December and signed copies were collected and counted last week.

Ryedale Business Action chairman Denis Lindsey says the petition shows an overwhelming number of people in Ryedale want free parking.

"It appears that we have collected around 8,500 signatures which is an encouraging result," said Mr Lindsey.

"We found few dissenting voices and strongly supporting views were the norm."

RBA, a group of business people claiming to represent the interests of Ryedale traders, was set up to campaign for free parking.

"Parking charges are damaging trade in towns like Malton because visitors to these towns do not want to pay so that they can shop in these places," he said.

"If parking charges were abolished there is no doubt in my mind that trade would benefit."

Mr Lindsey said the results of the petition show that the majority of Ryedale residents are behind the free parking campaign.

But Coun Alan Farnaby, leader of Ryedale District Council, says the petition is misleading and unfair on residents.

"Nowhere does it say who is conducting the poll - the notice states that free parking will help our market towns, but there is no evidence of this," he said. "Only at the bottom of the petition in small lettering did it say that there would be a cost to council tax payers if free car parking is introduced.

"I am sure that most people would sign to say that they would like free car parking - but not at any cost."

But, Mr Lindsey said, the poll did make reference to the fact that there would be a cost to the council.

"We also pointed out that neighbouring districts manage to provide free disc parking for their residents and visitors," he said. "Greater vitality of the market towns of these districts in many cases appears to be the result."

Updated: 16:24 Friday, February 23, 2001