A bid by residents in Harrogate to introduce residents-only parking on their streets amid concerns that spaces are being taken by hotel guests is set to be rejected.
A petition has been submitted to North Yorkshire Council by residents living in the Springfield Mews, Spring Mount and Spring Grove area of the town.
It calls for the current disc parking scheme to be replaced with residents-only parking amid concerns that residents are struggling to find spaces close to their homes.
The petition stated that the use of local streets by hotel guests caused a “significant inconvenience, particularly for those less mobile, as well as the prospect of poorly lit walks from distant parking during the winter months”.
The petition added:
“Residents have made representation to the local hotels and conference centre to ascertain the reasons for this illegal and inconvenient parking over more than two years but without success in rectifying the situation.”
Residents also believe that spaces are taken by attendees to events at the convention centre or other visitors to the town.
A council report noted that the nearby Majestic Hotel has on-site parking but at a charge of £18, while the Premier Inn provides no on-site parking but directs its users a car park at the Harrogate Convention Centre which is charged at £20 for 24hrs.
The petition has support from 56 of the 90 registered properties across the three streets – equivalent to 62 per cent – exceeding the 50 per cent threshold required under the authority’s residents’ parking scheme policy.
However, the proposal has been stopped at the first stage of the council’s assessment process after officers concluded that not all policy criteria had been met.
The council report concluded that existing vehicle access restrictions on the streets should first be enforced more effectively, with North Yorkshire Police being asked to increase enforcement against motorists using the roads without legitimate access.
The council also raised concerns that making the three streets residents-only could displace parking onto neighbouring roads where there was less support for residents-only parking.
In addition, no funding source was identified for the scheme.
Officers estimate implementing the changes could cost between £15,000 and £30,000, with new residents’ parking schemes currently requiring third-party funding.
While recommending the petition should not proceed, the report says the concerns raised by residents will be considered as part of a wider review of parking across Harrogate.
Officers plan to work with nearby hotels to encourage guests to use off-street car parks rather than residential streets.
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