Parking charge rises paused amid traders' backlash

Hugo Hildyard, who owns Partisan and Brancusi, in Micklegate, pictured with partner Florencia Clifford

Increases in parking charges along a busy city centre road in York have been put on hold following a backlash from business owners.

As part of city-wide rises in the price of on-street parking, charges on Micklegate have just gone up from 60p for half an hour and £1.20 for one hour to £4.85 for the first hour and £9.70 for up to two hours on Sunday to Thursday.

Amy and John Hughes, from Cads of Micklegate, said people using businesses such as their barbershop had seen a "massive jump" in parking charges.

Kate Ravilious, the council's transport spokesperson, said following concerns from traders, the increases on Micklegate would be paused so their potential impact could be better understood.

The council would meet Micklegate traders and church representatives soon to discuss the impact of the price rises soon, Kate Ravilious said

As part of the changes agreed by the Labour-led City of York Council in February, a premium charge of £5.30 for up to one hour's city centre parking and £10.60 for up to two hours' parking on Fridays and Saturdays was also agreed.

The same higher prices were approved for during special events such as the annual Christmas Market.

However, Mr and Mrs Hughes told the Local Democracy Reporting Service they feared the raft of new charges threatened to put off current and potential customers from using their business and others on Micklegate.

"We felt embarrassed about it because it's effectively an increase in the price of coming here for them.

"We've been here for 30 years so there'll always be people who pay to come, but potential new customers like students or people who are new to the area might look elsewhere."

Dannie Lea said the charges would "massively" affect his hair and beauty business on Micklegate

Dannie Lea, who owns Dannie Lea Hair and Beauty in Micklegate, agreed, saying the price hikes would "massively" affect his business.

"I've been trading on this street for 25 years and we've already had clients in the past two days comment on how much the parking has gone up and the only way to park is with the app," he said.

Meanwhile, Hugo Hildyard, who owns Partisan and Brancusi in Micklegate, described the new charges as "very unfair", adding that they "came completely out of the blue".

Mr Hildyard said: "It's completely put off all our customers as they don't want to pay £5.30 an hour to come in for a coffee and a cake.

"We've had customers get in touch and say they can't find anywhere to park now."

Worshippers at St Mary's Bishophill were "shocked" to find out about the price hikes when trying to park on Sunday, the church's junior warden said

Churchgoers in the area have also felt the impact of the rise in parking charges.

Angela Carter, junior church warden at St Mary's Bishophill, which is just off Micklegate, said members of the congregation were "shocked" when the price rises came into effect just as they prepared to mark the start of Holy Week on Sunday.

"It came as a considerable shock to us. We didn't hear anything about this and it affects our right to, and access to, worship," Ms Carter said.

Liberal Democrat opposition economy spokesperson Ashley Mason said it was "shameful" the council had scrapped Sunday morning exemptions as part of the changes.

"In an area with several active churches, people should be able to attend religious services without the threat of fines," he said.

Mason added that many businesses already facing cost increases felt there had been a lack of consultation about the changes.

Announcing the pause in parking price rises on Micklegate, Ravilious said the council would meet representatives from affected businesses and churches next week to discuss the hikes.

She said Micklegate was "different from other parts of the city in that it previously had both the option of a 30 minute parking charge and free parking on a Sunday morning for churchgoers".

The option to pay to park for 30 minutes was removed during the council's recent budget changes, she said.

"We've requested that council officers do not enforce the changes in this area until we've further consulted in the coming days," she said.

"It's important we hear from those affected and understand the impact."

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