Free parking in Harrogate under review as shops get ready to reopen

Councils suspended all charges in March to support essential services and key workers during the pandemic - and the move is now being reviewed.

It comes as Independent Harrogate, a pressure group made up of more than 200 businesses, are calling for free parking to be retained indefinitely.

But Harrogate Borough Council, which is losing out on £250,000 a month in car parking revenue, has hinted that charges at its off-street car parks will eventually be brought back in.

A spokesman said: “Following the latest government advice, we are now looking at when the three multi-storey car parks in Harrogate town centre will re-open and when charges will be reintroduced across all sites.

"We will have an update in due course.”

North Yorkshire County Council, which is responsible for on-street parking, also said its decision to suspend charges is being reviewed.

It comes as some councils in England have already reintroduced parking charges to claw back their climbing coronavirus costs.

David Bowe, the county council's Corporate Director of Business and Environmental Services, said: “We will keep our approach under review and as the situation develops we will carefully consider each location and take appropriate measures.”

By Jacob Webster, Local Democracy Reporter