Traders blame 500% parking rise for drop in takings

Business owners in part of York say their takings have been "significantly" impacted by a 500% rise in charges at a nearby car park.

The cost of parking for an hour at the car park in Bishopthorpe Road rose from 85p to £4.85 on 26 April.

One trader said the hike had resulted in a "massive" drop in footfall while another said the rise had put customers off visiting the area.

City of York Council said it would monitor the impact of the change, adding that the new pricing structure made bus travel more affordable than car parking if staying for two hours or more.

Beppe Lombardo, who owns Trinacria, a Sicilian restaurant on Bishopthorpe Road, said his business had been "struggling" in the wake of the rise.

"I've got staff that need to do their hours and I'm finding myself sending them home, because we can't really afford to keep staff on," he said.

He said some customers had told him they could no longer afford to visit the restaurant because of the cost of parking.

He said he also thought traffic on the road had got worse as a result.

"All the local people who pay for a parking permit are struggling to find parking because people who can't afford to park in the car park risk parking in the side roads, or wherever there is space," he said.

Charlotte Kneafsey, from M&K Butchers, said she had noticed a "massive change in the amount of footfall on the street".

"You can't expect people to pay £5 for parking when they're paying £5 for a pound of mince," she said.

"It's doubling the cost of a meal, which for most families is just completely unacceptable."

She claimed the car park was becoming "wasted space", saying she had seen just nine cars parked in the 35 spaces at times when it would normally be full.

Ruth Phillips, owner of The Good Food Shop, estimated that 20% of her trade came from people using the car park.

She also raised concerns about the number of buses serving the area and claimed the council "had not spoken to the local community and understood the impact on people visiting the car park and how it's going to restrict those who need to drive".

Joe Nasson, co-owner of The Bishy Weigh eco-shop, said his takings were "significantly down" since the new charges were introduced.

He said he "totally" agreed with efforts to reduce congestion in York, but that it "needs a change in people's behaviours to make sure that independent traders aren't affected by such a sudden shock".

He suggested increasing prices gradually, and incentivising sustainability through improved cycle parking and bus travel.

The Liberal Democrats, the main opposition group on the council, said they would be holding a series of meetings to discuss the impact of the changes.

Dringhouses and Woodthorpe councillor Ashley Mason said: "You've got people driving further afield to find free parking, parking in residential areas or just not even paying the ticket price.

"We're not against looking at ways to make York more sustainable and help people move around but parking - and particularly parking for short periods of time at local shopping areas - is key."

City of York Council said it was aware of the concerns of residents and businesses and was "listening and monitoring the impact" of the increased parking charges.

It said an equalities impact assessment had been carried out prior to the price rise.

A spokesperson added that Bishopthorpe Road and Nunnery Lane were both "well served by bus routes" while adding that parking in council car parks remained free for Blue Badge holders.

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