Council commissions review of parking fee increase

A formal review is set to begin into the decision to increase parking charges along Bishopthorpe Road after traders claimed their customers were being priced out of the area.

City of York Council put up fees in April from 80p per hour to £4.85, though the charge was later cut to £3 following adverse local reaction.

The authority said it had appointed independent consultants Arup to conduct the review, with an online survey set to launch as part of the process.

The Bishopthorpe Road Traders' Association (BRTA) said they were disappointed at the time it had taken for the review to begin.

Ruth Phillips, co-owner of The Good Food Shop, said: "Our customers are being priced out of their own neighbourhood while the council's revenue goes up.

"That isn't transport policy, it's opportunism dressed up as strategy."

Joe Nasson, co-owner of The Bishy Weigh, said the charges were undermining a community built on independence, accessibility and local loyalty.

"We're not asking for special treatment— just a fair process, proper consultation, and decisions based on evidence instead of guesswork," he said.

Responding to the traders' concerns, Kate Ravilious told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that officials had been in regular contact with the traders in recent months following initial proposals to hold a broader transport review.

She said the council's original suggestion was to look at parking charges along with the high street and sustainable travel improvements but that businesses had confirmed they wanted a review solely within the Traffic Management Act process.

Ravilious said the online survey came in direct response to their request and had been launched in line with legal guidance on how to conduct parking reviews.

The transport executive member said: "The council has appointed Arup to carry out this review, who will report back to us independently.

"The consultation will be well-publicised both on and offline and will be available in accessible formats.

"We encourage local businesses, residents and regular visitors to these areas to take part and have their say on car parking prices once the consultation is launched shortly."

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