MOTORISTS may soon enjoy a series of improvements to car parking in the Hambleton district - but charges could also go up.

A report to a Hambleton District Council cabinet meeting next week says changes could include provision for electric cars across the district, which includes Easingwold and Thirsk.

The report by executive director David Goodwin suggests there should be a feasibility study to explore the possibility of a range of improvements.

These include exploring the use or apps or other technology for providing customer information and bookings, the provision of wider bays in car parks, the introduction of height restrictions barriers, payment on exit for motorists, improved security and paying for parking by phone.

The study could also look into systems under which retailers would pay charges for customers and whether any changes were needed to parking orders in the district.

York Press:

The report suggests the study should investigate whether there are any external grants available to the authority to help fund such improvements, and explore how planning policy could help increase electric car usage.

It adds: “The feasibility work should be considered as a menu from which a wider set of improvements in relation to car parking investments could be chosen and delivered as part of a wider strategy which could include increasing parking charges.”