North Yorkshire Council has said they are reviewing their charges for 170 car parks over the county.
They have drawn up the following proposals:
- Introduce a charge on Sundays and evenings to car parks that do not already do so.
- Additional cost is planned for second permits in existing residential zones to account for the increasing number of houses with multiple vehicles.
- Blue badge parking to remain free.
- Generation of over £3.5M of income.
There has been no impact assessment over the proposal, particular on night-life or Sunday shoppers.
The Area Committees/ your Councillors have not been given any input to this change.
North Yorkshire Council says it aims to ensure that the parking service covers its costs, and there is fairness and consistency – it is not fully clear why charges need unification over such a large county.
New car parking tariffs would be effective from 1 April 2026, and council say the additional money raised would help to support the service and protect the council’s key frontline services.
Tom Gordon MP said:
Our local high streets are what make Harrogate and Knaresborough such special towns – but they’re already facing an uphill battle. One month it’s business rates, then it’s employer NICs, then a potential tourist tax.
I’m seriously worried that these changes parking charges from the Conservative-led council might just be the nail in the coffin for too many of our already struggling independent businesses.
Jonathan Swales, Branch Chairman, Reform UK Harrogate & Knaresborough, said:
North Yorkshire Council is right that parking needs modernising, and new lighting, machines and a single app make sense. Free Blue Badge parking is a positive move.
But the council is spending £2.4 million without publishing any payback data, efficiency savings or CO₂ reductions, and is raising charges when households and businesses are already under pressure.
New Sunday and evening charges risk a Laffer-curve effect where higher prices reduce usage and harm town-centre footfall. And if car-park charges rise too far, parking simply spills onto residential streets around Valley Gardens, Cold Bath Road and Montpellier.
Modernising the system is fine, but fairness means evidence. If the council can’t show the payback, the CO₂ savings or the impact on usage, then higher charges risk hurting residents and damaging our town centre.
Modernisation is welcome — but it must be transparent, locally sensitive and backed by real numbers.
Cllr Peter Lacey said:
I’m equally frustrated that these decisions are being made without any meaningful discussion with local Councillors or the wider business community in particular.
We are working hard to realise the delegated powers of the Area Committee but are constantly undermined by a system that seems to be driven by a desire for uniformity rather than following through on the Council’s commitment to be the most local large unitary.
Whilst there are plans for local Town Parking Plans, alongside Town Investment Plans, we repeatedly see decisions being made in County Hall that undermine confidence and put the cart before the horse.
Let’s have those discussions and then come to a decision that fits with local needs.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said:
The changes to parking charges are part of our vision for a unified system that is consistent for everyone.
After positive discussions with disability groups, we are pleased to be able to offer free parking for blue badge holders, meaning some areas will see them removed altogether.
We have carefully reviewed the charges to ensure they deliver the best possible value while enabling the service to remain financially self-sustaining.
In many cases, our rates are more affordable than privately managed car parks and are competitive with those set by neighbouring authorities.
We strive to improve our parking services to provide a better customer experience. We are investing in replacing parking machines which will be more environmentally friendly to save money and be more reliable.
The plans will be discussed at a meeting on Friday, 27 February 2026, between Cllr Taylor and the council’s corporate director of environment, Karl Battersby.
The principles would be implemented in stages, with a review of tariffs being the first. This will be followed by developing localised town parking strategies over the next year, recognising that one size doesn’t fit all.
