PARKING charges in Selby will remain frozen after a meeting of the district council agreed to hold any increases for at least 12 months.

Selby Council had been contemplating increasing parking rates in the town centre but decided to freeze them to help support business recovering from the recession.

Coun Mark Crane, the leader of Selby District Council, said: “We’re in a time of hugely increased pressure on our budgets, with 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.”

He said more people than ever now used car parks in Selby, where parking for a whole day costs £2.50.

Coun Crane said: “Keeping parking charges as they are does mean we’ll have to look elsewhere for some savings, but we’re committed to helping businesses and individuals through the economic downturn to build a stronger Selby in the long-run.”

But Coun Steve Shaw-Wright, leader of the Labour group in Selby, said Labour would do more to help businesses.

He said: “I am really pleased that Selby council has finally listed to the traders, residents and the Labour group who have constantly campaigned against the raising of the car parking charges.

“Under a Labour-led council, we would reduce the charges, and offer free time for short-stay shoppers to encourage more people to shop in the town, and we would also introduce low-cost residents passes for those residents in the town without access to on street parking.”