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Apr 2023

Last Updated: 13/04/2023

Transport

Calls for tougher parking enforcement in Harrogate district

by Stuart Minting Local Democracy Reporter

| 13 Apr, 2023

Councillors have called for tougher parking enforcement in towns and villages in North Yorkshire.

North Yorkshire Council’s transport, economy, environment and enterprise scrutiny committee heard yesterday some visitor hotspot villages were examining how parking restrictions could be introduced as it was impacting on residents’ quality of life.

One elected member claimed “nothing seems to be done about people parking on pavements”, while others highlighted issues resulting from people parking in residential areas to avoid payments.

The meeting heard North Yorkshire has a forecast £3m annual parking enforcement surplus.

It also heard claims that an unfair proportion of the resources generated had been pumped into Harrogate-based projects in recent years.

An officer’s report to councillors revealed how the the lion’s share of the surplus had been used to reimburse bus operators for pensioners’ concessionary fares, boost the road repairs budget and improve the A1(M) junction 47 between Harrogate and York.

Councillors expressed concerns that while parking enforcement surpluses in some areas had been used to bolster general council “rainy day” funds, Harrogate Borough Council had put forward a lengthy wish list of transport and road projects for its area.

Committee chairman, Cllr David Staveley, a Conservative who represents Settle & Penyghent, said:

“It does feel slightly inequitable to other areas that have possibly contributed quite substantially to that fund. It does some of our areas are getting slightly short-changed.

“I think going forward we are one council. All residents should get a fair crack of the whip.”

Labour Cllr Melanie Ann Davis, who represents Selby West, said enforcement in Selby, which had received a “derisory” three per cent of the parking enforcement income, was “very poor” due to a lack of wardens.

She said:

“I think we need an assurance that there is going to be a new look at this to see that there is a much more uniform service.”

The meeting heard although the parking enforcement surplus had been collected from across the county, there had been an agreement that Harrogate and Scarborough councils be consulted on how it was spent.

Councillors were told while the authority’s position would remain focused on encouraging off-street parking to reduce congestion, the launch of the unitary authority and the unification of off-street and street parking responsibilities at the new council presented an opportunity to review policies and investment priorities.

The authority’s corporate director, Karl Battersby, said the surplus was currently being spent on an “eclectic mix” of legally permissable projects.

He added the review would examine the county’s “mixed bag of charges, policies, enforcement”, and links between parking and active travel. He said:

“Going forward we are going to have a proper look at what this budget should and shouldn’t fund.”