Review into parking charges in York after businesses complain
There will be a review into Bishopthorpe Road parking
A formal review is set to begin into Bishopthorpe Road parking charge hikes brought in earlier this year after traders claimed their customers were being priced out of the area.
York Council has appointed independent consultants Arup to conduct the review, with an online survey set to launch as part of the process.
The Bishopthorpe Road Traders’ Association (BRTA) said they were still waiting for substantive work on a review more than seven months after they requested one into the increases, claiming they were unfair.
Council Labour transport spokesperson Cllr Kate Ravilious said officials had been in regular contact with the traders in recent months following initial proposals to hold a broader transport review.
The call comes after charges at the Bishopthorpe Road Car Park were set at £3-an-hour in June, following a backlash against hikes there and across York earlier in the year.
Fees at Bishopthorpe Road were initially increased from 80p-an-hour to £4.85-an-hour for the first two hours from Sunday to Thursday and £5.30 on Fridays, Saturdays and during events.
Cllr Ravilious said at the time the changes came in response to feedback including from Bishopthorpe Road traders who launched a petition calling for the hikes to be reversed.
The traders also called for a statutory review under the Traffic Management Act 2004’s Right to Challenge Parking Policies.
But the BRTA said residents and businesses were still waiting for the opportunity to fully and formally present their objections to the charges through a review.
The association added many long-standing customers of shops on the road had stopped visiting while the council raked in more income from higher parking fees.
Traders said the hikes had come in but no improvements to bus services, cycle parking or other sustainable travel options had been made locally.
Ruth Phillips, co-owner of The Good Food Shop, said they were no closer to a fair and transparent review.
Ms Phillips said: “Our customers are being priced out of their own neighbourhood while the council’s revenue goes up.
“That isn’t transport policy, it’s opportunism dressed up as strategy.”
Joe Nasson, co-owner of The Bishy Weigh, said the charges were undermining a community built on independence, accessibility and local loyalty.
The trader said: “We’re not asking for special treatment— just a fair process, proper consultation, and decisions based on evidence instead of guesswork.”
Council Transport Executive Member Cllr Ravilious said their initial proposal had been to conduct a broad review looking at parking charges along with the high street and sustainable travel improvements.
She added officials had been in regular contact with the traders in recent months but businesses had confirmed they wanted a review solely within the Traffic Management Act process.
Cllr Ravilious said the online survey came in direct response to their request and had been launched in line with legal guidance on how to conduct parking reviews.
The transport executive member said: “The council has appointed Arup to carry out this review, who will report back to us independently.
“The consultation will be well-publicised both on and offline and will be available in accessible formats.
“We encourage local businesses, residents and regular visitors to these areas to take part and have their say on car parking prices once the consultation is launched shortly.
“We’ve invested significantly in improving bus services in the last year and are now consulting on a bus priority corridor, the Rougier Route, which will bring significant benefits to bus reliability.
“We’re also delighted to report that East Yorkshire buses will be trialling a new Sunday bus service between Bishopthorpe and Bishopthorpe Road, starting in the New Year, bringing direct benefits to the local business community.”
The council has also conducted parking data reviews after pledging to do so every three months when charges were revised in June, with the latest published in October.