Council backs down on parking (From The Advertiser Series)

Council backs down on parking

11:43am Tuesday 2nd February 2010

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PEOPLE in Thirsk are celebrating after the county council backed down over plans to reduce free parking time.

The council was considering limiting the time drivers could leave vehicles in Kirkgate and Millgate without paying to an hour.

The authority has several bays near the World of James Herriot, but critics expressed anger at the move during consultation.

Thirsk Town and Sowerby Parish councils were against a change, as was Thirsk’s county councillor Gareth Dadd.

The council has decided to cut the time in Millgate, but will not change the Kirkgate arrangement.

Coun Dadd said: “My response is one of delight that after more or less unanimous opposition to this, common sense has prevailed.

“The church, dentist and Herriot Centre users can all now relax in the knowledge that their visits will be unfettered.”

A county council spokesman said: “The Kirkgate disc parking time is going to remain at two hours.

“This is because we consulted on reducing the limit to one hour and – due to the level of objection – decided to make no change.”

● Disc parking will not be introduced in Leyburn after councillors heard the scheme would cost taxpayers more than £12,000 a year.

Members of Leyburn Town Council were told it would cost about £2,900 a year in business rates for a disc parking scheme to be introduced in the Market Place.

A further £2,400 would be levied for the town’s other two squares.

The scheme would cost a further £7,000 a year to run, members attending the January town council meeting were told.

Councillors rejected the scheme after hearing the costs provided by the HM Revenue and Customs valuation office and being told the money would have to be found through the town’s council tax precept.

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