Parking pilot scheme plea (From Gazette & Herald)

Parking pilot scheme plea

A pilot scheme to slash the cost of all-day parking in Malton will be put to the vote tomorrow night.

Traders are urging Ryedale District Councillors to back the proposal, which would see the price of parking in Wentworth Street car park go down to £1 for an hour and £1.50 for the whole day.

The scheme was devised as part of the council's rethink on parking charges last year. After a 25 per cent increase in the charges in April 2005, major opposition was backed by a Gazette & Herald campaign to Drive Down Parking Charges.

A Car Parking Action Group was formed including Mayor Ann Hopkinson, Fitzwilliam Estate manager Roddy Bushell, district councillor Paul Andrews, Gazette & Herald editor Chris Buxton and traders in the town.

Now one of its key suggestions, to provide cheap long-stay parking in Wentworth Street, has been planned out by officers at the council.

In a report to the committee, commercial services manager Phil Long says that the £1 and £1.50 option (option 1a) has "the potential to stimulate growth".

However, he warns that it could lose the council up to £15,000 if ticket sales do not increase and motorists migrate from other, more expensive car parks. Other options to be considered are one flat rate of £1.50 for the day in Wentworth Street, or for a charge of £2 for four hours, with a further £2 for a stay up to 24 hours.

Councillor Paul Andrews welcomed the report. He said: "I'd urge people to support the pilot scheme, it's designed to encourage people to use Wentworth Street as a long-stay car park. If it goes through they'll be able to pay £1.50 and stay for as long as they like in a car park. This will mean, for example, that ladies who go to the hairdressers will not have to rush out into the car park immediately after they've had their hair done.

''They will be able to stay behind and relax in the town."

Simon Woollons, of Woollons & Harwood, said: "I would hope that the council adopt the pilot scheme in Wentworth Street and I would urge them to reconsider all the other short stay car parking prices."

If members of the council's community services and licensing committee give the green light, the scheme could be in place soon.

Mr Long told the Gazette & Herald: "I would like to think it would be implemented at least by June, but at the end of the day, the committee might try to put it in earlier."

The Wentworth Street scheme is part of the council's wider car parking strategy, which could bring in cheaper rates, park and ride schemes, a new car park and additional charges in Ryedale.

Updated: 14:44 Wednesday, April 05, 2006