MOTORISTS could have to pay more to park in York from this spring, as the city’s cash-strapped transport authority tries to balance its books.

Under new proposals from City of York Council, householders’ ResPark permits would rise from £90 to £93, with larger increases for households with multiple cars, while standard season-ticket holders would see their charge rise by ten per cent, to £44 a week or £110 a month.

Charges in car parks and on-street would also increase, for visitors and locals alike. York residents face their first increase in five years, with prices rising by up to 13.3 per cent.

The suggestions are all contained in the budget proposals for 2009/10, but are expected to be subject to intense political wrangling over the coming weeks.

The changes will only go through if the ruling Liberal Democrats win backing from seven Conservative councillors, or if the Greens back the Lib Dems and the Tories abstain in next month’s key budget-setting meeting.

Steve Galloway, the council’s transport boss, said: “ResPark fees for small, environmentally-friendly vehicles are being frozen for the third successive year. Other fees are rising in line with inflation.

“There is a 10p increase in parking charges for residents with Minster Badges at standard stay car parks, but this is the first for five years. Car parking charges are lower now in real terms than they were six years ago.”

The 10p increase would apply to motorists parking for up to an hour, with larger rises for longer stays.

Residents parking for one to two hours would see a rise from £2 to £2.20, those staying for two to three hours will pay £3.30 instead of £3, those parking for three to four hours face a hike from £4.30 to £4.70, and those staying for four to five hours would pay £9 instead of the current £8.

In Heworth, people parking for two to three hours in East Parade will pay £5.10 instead of £4.50.

People coming into York from elsewhere, such as North or East Yorkshire, also face increases. They already pay up to 50p an hour more than residents and face an increase of another 20p an hour on average, taking the total to £4.50 for two to three hours, for instance.

The transport budget at the council has been hit hard by the Government’s scheme to give concessionary travel to pensioners. Council officials have earmarked £375,000 in next year’s budget to help offset that deficit, which is on top of an earlier shortfall of £400,000.

Coun Galloway said up to £1 million could ultimately have to be found locally to subsidise concessionary fares, adding: “Central Government badly under-estimated the popularity of the free travel scheme and councils are now being left to pick up the bill.”

He will propose a motion to tonight’s full meeting of the council, calling on the council to back a Local Government Association (LGA) campaign on the issue.

He said: “The concessionary bus fares scheme has helped thousands of less well-off pensioners get around more easily. It is vital that the scheme is not put in jeopardy by this funding mess.”

If his motion is passed, the council’s chief executive Bill McCarthy will write to the LGA and York’s MPs, outlining the impact of the Government settlement on the city’s books and the resultant impact on public services.


Power bill rises by £384k

HOUSEHOLDERS know all too well about the impact of rising electricity prices – but the council has also been hit.

Increased energy bills mean the council will need to pay an extra £384,000 on street lighting in 2009/10.

The council saw its bills jump 67 per cent from November 1.

Changes to Government rules on planning law are also costing the council £100,000. Charges that the council could previously impose on developers can no longer be used as a revenue source.

To help make ends meet, City of York Council is proposing to cut its subsidies to Science City York and tourist body Visit York, by £30,000 and £25,000 respectively.

The reception at the council office in George Hudson Street could also close.


Opposition to proposals

OPPOSITION councillors still have to outline their plans for the budget, which will be set at Guildhall on February 26.

Labour and the Conservatives have both expressed concern about some of the proposed parking increases, and whether they go through will depend on political horse-trading between parties on the council.

Labour leader David Scott suggested his party would look to reduce ResPark costs, saying they wanted to “give something back to residents”.

Conservative leader Ian Gillies said: “I would not want to see anything that detracts from helping to stabilise the city’s economy and if parking is one of those things, I would not want to see any increase.”