City of York Council's policy on car parks is killing trade in the city centre, it has been claimed. We invited a council representative and an opponent of its policies to argue the case

YES...says Bill Woolley, City of York Council's assistant director of transport

York's Transport Plan was produced to address the key issues raised by residents, businesses and other stakeholders, these are :

- Contributing to the continuing economic vitality of the city

- Managing and reducing congestion, which residents regularly tell us is the most important issue facing York

- Improving air quality to help maintain a clean and healthy environment.

To achieve these aims we need to manage the number of car trips into the city centre.

It is worth considering how much lighter the traffic is on school holiday mornings and yet the reduction in car journeys is only ten per cent.

We are aware from the many surveys we carry out that our car parks have space on all but a handful of days and in fact for most days at least 40 per cent of the spaces, amounting to 1,600 spaces, are unoccupied.

Our parking strategy therefore must involve the better management of city centre car parks and this is set out in our Local Transport Plan and can be summarised as:

- Encouraging commuters and day visitors to use Park & Ride, rather than driving into the city to park all day

- Recognising the importance of car access for some shoppers and businesses.

When you include the number of spaces we have provided at our four existing Park & Ride sites, there has been a net increase in parking of 750 spaces in the last two years alone.

Add these to our other Park and Ride spaces and the total comes to over 3,000 spaces.

In contrast over the last ten years while just over 1,000 long stay places have been lost, there has been an increase in short and medium stay places of more than 600.

Park and Ride is a big success story and currently keeps one million vehicles a year out of the city centre.

Our commitment to providing high quality city centre parking can also be demonstrated by the investment we have made and are continuing to make in car park improvements.

Most are now protected by CCTV and improved lighting and our ongoing resurfacing programme has just encompassed Union Terrace and Nunnery Lane car parks. We are also in the process of building new high-quality toilets at this site, recognising its importance for visitors.

Another important initiative which will be implemented over the next two years is the provision of a management and information system. This will see variable message signs located throughout the city and beyond, which will help to direct motorists to underused car parks such as Foss Bank to ensure we maximise the capacity we have available.

Rather than see an overall reduction in car parking we are planning a further 3,000 park and ride spaces during the next five years.

This, together with our other transport improvements, will help to tackle the effect congestion has on our city, but, at the same time, ensure the future vitality of our city centre and protect our unique environment for future generations.

NO...says Len Cruddas, chairman of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce

TRAFFIC control is a difficult issue. We all want a better environment and a cleaner world, but we must deal with the present situation. Society is very car-dependent today, and we cannot ignore that.

For York's city centre businesses to function properly, their staff and customers need access for cars, and places for them to be parked.

In itself, the steady reduction of car parking spaces in York is not necessarily a bad thing. However, alternative forms of transport need to be available, and, unfortunately, these are far from adequate right now. Until they are, our car parks should be safeguarded.

The council believes its policy will persuade motorists on to the Park & Ride service. But I don't think Park & Ride is able to fill the gap completely. There is not sufficient capacity all the time. At busy periods, the queues for Park & Ride are too long, which defeats the object.

Moreover, Park & Ride only suits certain people. It is fine for people coming into town if they are not planning to carry around large amounts of shopping - but, of course, that is precisely what we want them to do. Neither is Park & Ride as convenient for parents with children in prams or buggies.

The council's policy is particularly aimed at reducing long-stay spaces. This will discourage visitors from staying in town, spending money in all kinds of ways - in attractions, shops, pubs and restaurants in the city centre.

Fewer spaces will also hit those who rely on their car for business. They frequently need access to their cars throughout the day to visit clients in the city centre and further afield, and they need their own visitors to be able to park their cars reasonably close by.

Meanwhile, new hotels have been built in York without enough parking for all their guests. They will suffer if the additional car parking spaces they rely on are whittled away.

York has to compete with other shopping centres, and with out-of-town retail parks which offer free and convenient parking. There are many unique shops and other attractions that draw people into York's retail heart. But if these visitors find it ever more difficult to park, they may think twice about coming back. You can't just switch off the supply of car parking spaces, because people will go somewhere else.

There is a risk that businesses will lose custom. The point will come when the decrease in parking will have a serious effect on business.

I should like to see the car park space closure programme put on hold, or at least called in for review, until we have a proper alternative.

Updated: 10:58 Thursday, May 30, 2002