Car parking charges on hold to aid local firms

Selby District Council has agreed to keep the parking fees on hold for at least the next 12 months in the hope of encouraging more trade for businesses.

The decision was made by the council on Tuesday and came in the wake of a review which revealed that there had been a significant rise in the number of motorists using the authority's car parks.

Council leader Mark Crane admitted that the authority would have to look at other ways of cutting costs to cope with mounting financial pressures.

Coun Crane added: "We're in a time of hugely increased pressure on our budgets, councils across the country facing some difficult financial decisions.

"It would have been easy for us to try and claw back some funding through increases in car parking charges, but we don't think that's the right approach.

"Traders across the district have faced a very difficult couple of years and the economic recovery is still fragile. Now is the time to support local business by keeping down costs for people who want to use their local shops and access local services."

A council spokesman stressed that car parking charges in the district remain some of the lowest in North Yorkshire, with drivers paying less than a pound to leave their car in Selby town centre for several hours. Parking for an entire day costs only 2.50.

An overhaul of the council's 11 short stay and long stay car parks which was introduced two years ago has led to a 10 per cent increase in usage.

One of the council's key aims for the current year is to help businesses recover from the effects of the recession.