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26
Mar
Parking charges set for big increase in Harrogate district
North Yorkshire Council looks set to increase parking charges well above inflation for a second consecutive year.
The Stray Ferret reported on and off-street parking charges were to rise by 20% a year ago.
Now the council is proposing a blanket 10% hike for 2025/26, starting next month. Inflation is currently 2.8%.
Steve Brown, head of parking services at the council, has proposed the increase in a report ahead of a meeting on Friday (March 28).
The report says parking charges in most parts of the county had not increased for 10 years prior to local government reorganisation in 2023.
It also proposes spending £2 million on replacing 430 parking machines, £400,000 on new car park lighting and another £400,000 on replacing 345 old borough and district council signs with new North Yorkshire Council branded signs.
The report says:
North Yorkshire Council is undertaking the largest investment into parking infrastructure ever seen in the region with the possibility of new parking machines, improved lighting and better policies all aimed at improving the customer experience. This [price] increase recognises this significant investment and will help maintain high standards in car parking for the next five years.
The price hike is expected to generate an extra £1.95 million for the council, bringing total annual parking income to £21,450,110.
Cllr Keane Duncan, the Conservative executive member for highways and transportation and corporate director Karl Battersby are expected to approve the increase at Friday's meeting.
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