Switch set to be flicked on as Harrogate launches country-leading smart parking trial

MP Andrew Jones ‘very concerned’ over plan to cut Harrogate school’s fundingHarrogate and North Yorkshire council representatives will be joined by members from technology firm AppyParking for the official launch of the trial system on Monday.

The launch will take place at Harrogate’s Cambridge Road at 10am, with the app set to go live around this time.

Once the system is online, residents will be able to use a free app which will give them live updates as to where free parking spaces are across Harrogate’s town centre.

Since March last year hundreds of sensors have been installed in off-street and on-street parks throughout the town for the trial.

The app will also enable residents to pay for the exact minutes they are parked, as opposed to the nearest hour.

Jailed ex-deputy mayor of Knaresborough must pay back over £100,000 stolen from churchHarrogate council’s cabinet member for sustainable transport Phil Ireland said in December that the move would make the town a “trailblazer”.

“Other towns and areas have done it on two or three streets but we’re the first to have it town-wide,” he said.

He added at the time that he was confident the app would also cut down on congestion and pollution in the town centre by shortening the length of time drivers spent looking for parks.

Heartbreak as Graham Siswick's memorial benches are cruelly stolen from Harrogate RUFCThe project has been jointly funded by both Harrogate Borough Council, which controls off-street parking, and North Yorkshire County Council, which controls on-street parking, with the pair contributing £90,000.

An additional £200,000 in funding was provided by project partners AppyParking and Visa.

Lachlan Leeming , Local Democracy Reporting Service