Parking prices freeze delight

11:29am Friday 26th May 2006

MOTORISTS looking to park in York were given great news today, as city council chiefs announced they will freeze and slash prices.

Charges in all off-street car parks and at street parking meters will be frozen for the coming year, while many other prices have also been cut.

Coun Ann Reid, the council's planning and transport boss, said: "I am delighted to be able to announce that charges in all off-street car parks and at street parking meters will be frozen for the coming year.

"This is the second successive year where drivers will benefit from a cost reduction in real terms. In addition, some key prices will be reduced and some new initiatives introduced."

The decision follows the Evening Press Stop the Highway Robbery campaign, which led to yellow lines being axed in many parts of the city centre, and a cut in sky-high prices for evening parking.

The new prices, which are proposed as part of the council's budget plans for the next financial year, will also mean:

Coun Reid added there would be no increase to the charges for Dial and Ride, but ResPark charges would increase in line with inflation.

She also revealed that pensioners who choose not to have a bus pass or transport tokens will be able use their entitlement to buy a parking pass.

"As promised, we are comprehensively reviewing all parking activity and these measures result from this ongoing work," she said.

"We have listened to residents and the business community and responded in a positive way.

"By providing one car park where charges are considerably reduced we will further extend choice for motorists - charges for the more convenient city centre car parks are greater than those further away.

"We have also honoured our pledge to reward those who drive lower emission vehicles by halving the cost of parking, and the list of eligible vehicles now includes small family cars.

"We have been greatly encouraged by the upturn in the numbers visiting the city centre during December, and hope that these measures will help to support the general improvements recently seen in the retail economy."

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, shadow transport spokeswoman, said: "It is a shame that, in the run-up to an election year, they (Liberal Democrats) feel they can bring in reductions to try and buy back the voters they have lost over the parking scandal in the last three years.

"If they can do this now, why couldn't they do it before?"

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