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22
Aug
Plea to listen to residents' views on disc parking in Harrogate district
North Yorkshire Council has been urged to listen to residents’ views before deciding whether to get rid of disc parking in the Harrogate district.
The Stray Ferret revealed last week the council is to undertake a countywide parking review in a move that could also see tariffs increased and Blue Badge holders pay to park in car parks.
The council has said it will draw up town parking strategies when the review is completed.
Councillor Chris Aldred, a Liberal Democrat who represents High Harrogate and Kingsley, wrote to Karl Battersby, the council’s corporate director for environment, about the review.
Cllr Aldred, who is also the council’s representative on PATROL (Parking And Traffic Regulations Outside London) — a committee that represents more than 300 local authorities — told Mr Battersby disc parking “is valued by many of our residents”.
He added:
I am seeking an assurance that, where identified in an individual town parking strategy and clearly wanted by residents, disc parking would continue to be maintained as part of the parking mix.
A parking disc
Mr Battersby said disc parking was “not so popular” on the east coast, adding:
The consultation will tease out what works and what doesn’t but during the discussions we will need to set residents parking rules so that there is some continuity across the region and the rules are then equally applied. From a sustainability point of view we also need to think about the use of discs given our machines are going paperless which delivers a significant saving.
Parking permits
Responding to other questions from Cllr Aldred, Mr Battersby said the council would review controlled parking zones “to manage residential and visitor parking pressures more effectively”, adding: “Permit types will be streamlined to simplify the system and improve efficiency.”
He said tariffs would be “re-balanced” at “a level that is equitable across the region” and confirmed there were plans to charge Blue Badges for using car parks.
Mr Battersby concluded:
This has not been done before on this kind of scale and will need both officers and members to work together for a collective aim and that is to manage our kerb space better, fairer and in line with the council plan.
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