Anger over decision to raise city car parking charges

According to the most recent survey, a quarter of shops in the city centre are empty.

From January on-street parking will cost £1.45 per hour, a rise of 15p while two hours in a short stay car park will rise from £1.60 to £1.80.

To encourage Christmas shoppers, however, parking will be free on Sundays in November and December.

Labour councillor Martin Mancey, said: “This year the council faces budget cuts of £48m and for a number of years the cost of parking in the city centre has been capped.

“We have listened to and recognised the concerns of businesses and motorists, but feel that the proposed increases are necessary to help us deliver essential services to Hull’s council taxpayers.

“Notwithstanding this, I believe that our parking costs represent good value for money and compare favourably with our neighbours, and I am also recommending that we have free Sunday parking in November and December, a move which I hope will encourage more families and Christmas shoppers into the city centre.”

Labour claimed the increase was approved by former council leader Carl Minns and delayed until after the elections in May.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Ross said the increases would dissuade shoppers and impact on traders.

He said: “We can expect more of these desperate financially driven decisions in the future as they rush to fill the black hole they have created in their finances.

“The only reason it is now necessary is that Labour is mishandling the council’s finances.”

The council said car parking charges still compared favourably with onstreet parking in Leeds costing £2.50 an hour and York £1.70.

Two hours in a short stay car park will still be £1 less than in Beverley and £1.80 less than York.