Call for free parking in Harrogate to be extended beyond lockdown for Christmas run-up

Harrogate BID (Business Improvement District) said the current suspension of charges at council-run car parks until December 2 should be continued on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays as non-essential businesses reopen after four weeks of enforced closures.

But Harrogate Borough Council - which announced it was temporarily scrapping fees on Friday - said it would not consider the move and argued "there is no shortage of free parking if people wish to use it."

Sara Ferguson, acting chair of Harrogate BID, questioned why the council had chosen to suspend fees while people are being told to stay at home and not when reopening shops need support.

“Surely the best time to support the town centre, and its businesses, would be when lockdown ends and when the shops reopen and town comes back to life on December 2," she said.

“What we would like to see is free off-street parking being offered on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays throughout December, as a way of bringing shoppers into Harrogate town centre during these traditionally quieter days.”

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The council was previously praised for suspending fees during the first lockdown but also faced criticism from some business leaders as the reintroduction of charges coincided with shops reopening in June.

A council spokesman said its decision to pause fees during both the first and second shutdown was for the benefit of key workers and others travelling to work during the pandemic.

"This will allow NHS staff, key workers, permitted businesses as well as others to provide essential services, to those that need it the most, during this difficult time," he said.

It is estimated the council misses out on around £250,000 a month in parking revenue by suspending fees. A spokesman said vital council services rely on the car park cash and that if it does not come from ticket machines, the authority will have to find the money from elsewhere.

He said: "Parking income pays for town centre litter collection, the fantastic Stray which brings in customers all-year-round, environmental health which makes sure people are safe eating in town, taxi licensing which means people can get in to and out of town safely and supports the conference centre ensuring business tourists come and spend in our local shops."

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The council also said Harrogate BID has "significant resources" taken from business rate payers and that it would be open to discussions over using this cash to subsidise parking.

A spokesman said: "We are the biggest contributor to the BID putting in more than twice the next biggest contributors added together. If it wants to spend those contributions subsidising parking, we are happy to discuss it."

Harrogate Borough Council is responsible for off-street parking, whilst North Yorkshire County Councils looks after on-street. The current suspension of fees only applies to off-street car parks in the Harrogate district.

The authorities are urging motorists to use the AppyParking app, which is available for all council parking spaces in the district.

NHS and care workers, including volunteers involved with delivering important Covid-19 support, can still park for free on street spaces.

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter