Residents’ night charges scrapped

9:09am Saturday 30th June 2007

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EVENING parking charges for York residents are set to be abolished one month from today, it has been revealed.

Council bosses said, from July 30, motorists with a valid Minster Badge in the windscreen will be able to park for free in the city after 6pm.

The move follows a long-running campaign against the charges, and political co-operation between the Labour and Conservative groups on City of York Council.

Labour leader David Scott said: "I am pleased to confirm a date, July 30, has now been set for York residents with Minster Badges to be able to park free in the evenings.

"This was a one of Labour's manifesto promises and I am therefore delighted to be able to keep that promise.

"I hope, in future years, we may be able to promote the city's business in the early evening by moving to free parking from 5pm onwards."

Conservative leader Ian Gillies said: "I am grateful to the officers for processing it so quickly, so we can deliver what we promised. Hopefully, it will be contributory to reigniting the evening economy of York."

Evening parking charges were introduced by the Liberal Democrats in 2003/04.

The Press launched the Stop The Highway Robbery campaign, opposing evening parking charges, the proliferation of yellow lines and excessive parking charges in general.

Ann Reid, the council's transport boss, said at the time the campaign was "devoid of any intellectual content whatsoever", but it won backing from thousands of residents and business workers.

Following last month's elections, which left the city with a hung council, the Conservatives and Labour were able to team up to get the charges abolished, marking another significant victory for the campaign.

A report to the council's urgency committee earlier this week said abolishing residents' charges would cost £55,000 in this financial year, and about £75,000 in a full year.

Coun Scott said: "It is now for residents to disprove the scepticism of the Liberal Democrat administration by taking up the free parking."