Planned increases to parking fees in North Yorkshire have been described as a “stealth tax” by a North Yorkshire councillor.
Councillor Matt Walker said a review of parking charges by North Yorkshire Council would see some fees more than double in Knaresborough, if approved.
Cllr Walker, Liberal Democrat member for the Knaresborough West division, said the increases were being forced through as the council was consulting residents on a new Knaresborough Town Investment Plan.
Describing the rises as a “stealth tax on Knaresborough’s future”, he added:
“It is completely unacceptable that these changes are being forced through before any local consultation to shape our town investment plans is even finished.
“This is a classic ‘cart before the horse’ approach.
“How can the council claim to be listening to our vision for Knaresborough’s future while simultaneously making it more expensive for residents and visitors to actually set foot in the town centre?”
The councillor said one-hour parking in the town’s Castle Yard car park would go from £1.30 to £2.40, while parking in Chapel Street would increase from £2.10 to £4.90.
He said lower-tier legacy tariffs in Market Square would be replaced by higher “Harrogate-style rates”, with a ten per cent increase in residents’ permits.
He added:
“A blanket approach is simply unacceptable. What works for a large town or a different district might be completely wrong for Knaresborough.
“By imposing a one-size-fits-all solution, the administration risks delivering a policy that fits no one and harms everyone.
“We need to be treading carefully and engaging properly, not treating our car parks like a cash cow to balance the county’s books. Our local businesses are the lifeblood of this community; we should be making it easier to support them, not harder.”
The councillor is urging residents to make their voices heard during the upcoming Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) consultation process.
North Yorkshire Council has set out plans to increase parking charges by ten per cent from April 1, while fees will also be ‘rebalanced’ to ensure consistency across the county.
The authority says the rebalancing is needed to ensure fairness and consistency, with parking previously overseen by North Yorkshire’s seven former borough and district councils.
The changes will see parking fees introduced on Sundays and evenings in areas of the county where parking is currently free at these times.
An additional cost is planned for second permits in existing residential zones to account for the increasing number of houses with multiple vehicles.
But the council has decided that blue badge parking will be free in all council-run car parks in future.
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