Motorists are set to benefit from a consistent, fair, and forward-looking approach to parking in North Yorkshire which is set to be agreed as part of a new set of principles.
The move marks a significant step in aligning parking policies with our wider goals for sustainability, economic growth, and community wellbeing.
If adopted, the principles would guide how parking is managed and developed across North Yorkshire, replacing a patchwork of inherited policies from the county’s former district and borough councils.
Among the key themes are ensuring that parking provides a customer-focused and value for money service that reflects local need, such as electric vehicle infrastructure, and allows communities to be connected to transport links.
The aim is to make sure that the parking service is self-sustaining and contributes to the council’s financial resilience and there is fairness and consistency across its 170 car parks.
Executive member for highways and transport, Cllr Malcolm Taylor, said: “This is a major step forward in creating a modern, responsive parking system that works for everyone in North Yorkshire. This unified approach allows us to be strategic and sensitive to local needs.
“These principles are not just about where people park, they are about how we support our town centres, reduce congestion, improve air quality, and make our communities more accessible and attractive.
“It’s about fairness, sustainability, and delivering a service that reflects the diversity of our county, from busy urban centres to rural villages.
“We are committed to working with residents, businesses, and stakeholders as we move into the next phases of implementation.”
Our executive members will be asked to agree the adoption of the proposed parking principles at a meeting on Tuesday, 19 August.
If approved, the parking principles will be implemented in three stages. A review of parking tariffs would follow later this year, and localised town parking strategies would be developed throughout next year, with full consultation.