Rethink urged on parking charges hike (From Gazette & Herald)

Rethink urged on parking charges hike

BUSINESS leaders, parish councillors and residents in Ryedale last night urged the district council to re-think controversial plans to increase car parking charges, close public toilets and shake-up tourist information centres.

The calls came at a public meeting of the authority's overview and scrutiny committee when more than 50 people packed the council chamber at Ryedale House to make a last-ditch bid to change the council's budget for the new financial year before tomorrow night's policy and resources committee and the full council on March 3.

Some urged RDC to raise the proposed increase in council tax from three per cent to achieve extra income to avoid a 25 per cent rise in car parking and the need to close public toilets.

Tot Wardle, of Harome, said it was vital the TIC remained in Helmsley Market Place and was not switched to the new visitor centre at the Castle, which was strongly opposed by town residents and traders. He said some 100,000 used the TIC but only about 27,000 went to the castle.

Chief executive Harold Mosley replied that the opening of the centre had presented an opportunity because RDC believed it could provide the same service at less money.

Mr Mosley said RDC was also trying to recoup money from the tourist industry operators in Ryedale towards promotion and marketing to save council cash.

On toilets, Coun Margaret Taylor, of Norton, said charges of 10p should be made to help to run the conveniences rather than close them. If Norton's closed there would be no facility for people using the railway station and the nearest would be at Malton Market Place.

There was also opposition to suggestions that Rosedale's toilets might close.

However, Coun Elizabeth Shields, chairman of the community services committee, said public loos at Kirkbymoorside, Rosedale and Malton Market Place would remain. Only those at Staxton and Wentworth Street have been suggested for closure.

On car parking, Denys Townsend, of the Malton and Norton chamber of trade, warned that increasing car parking charges would encourage people to shop in Scarborough, Monks Cross or Clifton Moor and the towns' streets would become clogged with parked cars which would have "a massive effect" on visitors and incoming shoppers.

Audrey Milestone, of Wombleton, pointed out that in other rural parts of the country people had up to two hours free parking.

But Coun Howard Keal told the meeting that Ryedale needed to promote the fact that it was "a bargain" to park in Ryedale.

Coun Paul Andrews said that he had two meetings with council officers in a bid to find savings in the new budget and to reduce the proposed car parking charges.

He said that on staffing he had been told that savings would be needed due to the £125,000 that has to be found for efficiencies ordered through the Government's new Gershon savings system on local authority spending.

On recycling, he said RDC should make provision over five years to replace three refuse vehicles.

Trevor Teasdale, the council's chief financial officer, said that of each pound paid in council tax, RDC received only 13p. The remainder went to North Yorkshire County Council, police and fire authorities, and town and parish councils.

The council's current budget was £6,569,000 which was likely to rise to £6,750,000 in the new financial year.

The implications of increasing the council tax by three per cent from April would be just 9p a week - £4.57 a year - which would provide the council with £93,000.

Updated: 14:53 Wednesday, February 09, 2005