Business owners fear a huge price rise at a York car park could ‘kill off’ their street.
As YorkMix reported, Bishopthorpe Road car parking prices rose by up to 562% over the weekend.
It was 80p to park for up to an hour inside the 41-space car park, but it will now cost you £4.85, or £5.30 on a Friday and Saturday. It has also been changed from a short stay to a long stay.
The increases were implemented on 26 April, and introduced as part of the Labour-run council’s budget measures.
Executive member for transport Cllr Kate Ravilious told us: “Bishopthorpe Road car park previously had the lowest parking charges in or close to the city centre, encouraging the sort of frequent, short trips we’re keen to reduce so we can improve bus service reliability.”
You can read her full comments below.
A petition opposing the change now has more than 5,000 signatures.
YorkMix spoke to some of the street traders on Bishopthorpe Road – named GB High Street Of The Year ten years ago – to see how they’re feeling about the changes.
Millies Fruit & Veg
Vicky Harris, manager at Millies, feels the council haven’t considered the wider effect the changes will have on small businesses like themselves.
She believes it will seriously harm trading, and noted that the car park was now significantly quieter than before.
“It’s just absolutely ridiculous, I just can’t get my head around it,” Vicky told YorkMix.
Whilst reporting from Millies, a pensioner requested that Vicky monitor her car in the car park as she popped into the opticians a few doors down. She didn’t have enough change to cover the almost £5 charge, and the car parking app wasn’t working.
Vicky added: “Bishopthorpe Road is a lovely street. It’s got great little shops and cafes, it’s got a good feel about it, and these changes are just going to kill it off. People just won’t come.”
Pig and Pastry
Steve Holding, co-owner of the Pig and Pastry, has mixed feelings towards the charges.
“We got away with it being really cheap for so long, but now it’s ridiculously expensive. I know that town’s gone up as well, but that’s risen proportionally,” Steve told YorkMix.
He suggested that by doubling the previous price, which would have been £1.60 for an hour, it would have been far better received: “People can stomach that.”
Although he fears less for his own business as most of his custom is local or from nearby Airbnbs, he feels the evening businesses will be significantly affected.
What the council says
City of York Council executive member for transport, Cllr Kate Ravilious said: “Bishopthorpe Road car park previously had the lowest parking charges in or close to the city centre, encouraging the sort of frequent, short trips we’re keen to reduce so we can improve bus service reliability, including the No. 11 serving Bishopthorpe Road shops, free up the roads for essential journeys and make our roads safer for people choosing to walk, use mobility aids and cycle.
“One in four York residents do not have a car and it’s right we develop transport policies that equally support them to move around as well, plus give all residents a wider range of transport options.
“Our new parking charge structure has created more consistent pricing across the city. This has resulted in some more significant price increases in areas that were previously charging anomalously low prices.
“The council has approved a fixed £2 all evening charge for Minster badge holders, and also increased the Minster Badge discount to temper the increase in parking charges for local people.
“And having last week met with businesses in different areas, we are now taking a period to reflect and consider whether we have got the balance right. This follows my recent public decision committing to review the charges at 3, 6 and 9 monthly intervals to assess their impact.
“We’ll continue to listen and ensure parking charges support both our wider transport policies and businesses across the city.”
“It used to be free after six, which was quite a nice draw for a local neighbourhood,” he added.
Overall, Steve said he’s definitely against the hike, but would welcome a fairer increase.
“I think only the Robinsons customers are going to be able to afford the car park now!” he quipped.
Rae & Rae Opticians
Co-owner of Rae & Rae, Tracy Rae, believes the changes are “hugely damaging”.
Just days after the charges were implemented, some of her audiology patients told her that they will no longer be able to afford to attend.
She explained that many of her older customers rely on the accessibility of the parking with it being so close to the opticians.
“They get free eye tests under the NHS, so to pile on a huge car park price, they’re just going to go off to the likes of Vangarde where they can park for free, but it’s not as convenient for them.”
Tracy also noted that the business is not only a health requirement for the elderly, it’s vital for social interaction.
“They can get out of the house, see people and chat. I put my concerns forward to a councillor who basically told me that they could come along on their bike instead, which I didn’t think was very productive,” Tracy added.
Thomas The Baker
Bakery staff Danielle and Charlie have both noticed the effects of the increased parking fees on their customers.
“It’s been so quiet today, yesterday wasn’t so bad but I think now people have now realised the increase, they don’t want to pay it,” Charlie told us.
There’s one car parking space for staff behind the bakery, but on days where it’s already in use, Charlie said she would now rather make the journey on foot from Acomb than pay the high prices.
Frankie & Johnny’s Cookshop
“People are going to really have to think about visiting the street by car, because £10 for two hours parking is just astronomical,” Frankie & Johnny’s employee Gina Brockbank told YorkMix.
Gina explained that a lot of York residents visit by car to use Bishopthorpe Road as a “supermarket”, and pick up their necessities from the various shops. She believes this will no longer be the case for a lot of people.
“It’s been a shock to people, because it’s not just going to gradually drip increase over a long period of time, it’s been a bit of a wallop,” Gina added.
Pextons
Todd Lepage, owner of Pextons, believes that the changes will encourage drivers who are prepared to walk into the city centre from Bishy Road, bypassing the high street altogether.
The “affordable” short stay community car park previously offered a maximum three-hour stay, but now visitors can stay all day, with the incentive that the longer you stay, the cheaper it is.
Todd emphasised Pextons role as a community resource, and he’s certain the car parking prices will drive many regulars away.
“For example, if somebody needs to buy two bags of compost because they can’t carry it home, it’s going to cost them five pounds. Except they’re not going to do that now, they’re going to drive out to Tesco or B&Q instead.”
He fears the prices could see the end of some of the streets thriving businesses.
“Things are difficult enough already for business owners – the increase in national insurance, business rates and staffing costs, and now this,” Todd told YorkMix.
He estimates that up to 20% of the hardware store’s revenue could be lost due to the parking increase.
Robinsons
“Guests probably spend over an hour here, so they will now have to pay around £10 to have breakfast,” Will Pearce, owner of Robinsons, told YorkMix.
He believes the changes will affect customers’ spend per head, with diners “likely to think twice” about what they’re spending in the cafe.
Will stated that those visiting Bishopthorpe Road typically frequent more than one business on the street, but now fears this may not be the case.
“When guests come to Robinsons, other businesses would usually benefit as well. They might go to Good Food Shop, or get some wine from Too Many Wines.”
He believes due to steep parking charges, this will now no longer be the case, “it’s not just one business affected in each person’s trip to Bishopthorpe Road, it’s all the businesses.”
Johnsons The Cleaners
Ethan, a member of staff from Johnsons who commutes from Leeds, claimed that the state of York’s parking was “absolutely bonkers.”
He argues that workers on the street should be entitled to some sort of staff discount to park, as he now pays upwards of £22.50 each day.
“I work six, sometimes seven days a week, and at £22.50 a day, it’s a pocket burner! It’s absolutely absurd,” Ethan said.
The Bishy Weigh
The owner of The Bishy Weigh, Joe Nasson, is the man behind the petition calling on the council to rethink the car park rises.
He told YorkMix he was “genuinely worried” about what these changes could mean for his business.
“It’s already tight, and this means that we take less money home as business owners, and businesses will cease to become sustainable,” Joe added.
Like some other businesses on the street, he estimates it could result in customer numbers dropping by around 20%.
Joe stated that he’s happy to work alongside City of York Council to find a more balanced solution. He has already put forward a suggested list of pricings to councillors.
The Good Food Shop
Ruth, owner of The Good Food Shop, has major concerns about the viability of her shop going forward.
“If these changes are kept, it could be the end of a lot of businesses,” she told YorkMix.
“It feels very short sighted from the council. We understand they want to reduce congestion. However, there’s nobody in the car park and the street is congested because of roadworks.
“We want to work with York council to lower congestion, but we know about 70% of people coming to the street already walk, so we’re already way ahead of the curve in terms of that,” Ruth added.
M&K Quality Butchers
“A pound of mince will now cost people £10, £5 for the mince and £5 to park” says Simon Kneafsey, from M&K Quality Butchers.
He said that he believes the charges are totally unacceptable, and said that he wouldn’t pay the “ridiculous” prices himself.
“If I was going out shopping with my wife and it was going to cost us £10, I would consider going somewhere else.”
Simon has worked at the butchers for more than 40 years, and stated that although the parking was priced “too low for too long”, it doesn’t make sense to increase the fare so dramatically.
“I think the council are just clutching at straws to try and get some more money, which they obviously have to do. But I think there’s other ways to get it, rather than trying to upset something that’s already very successful,” he said.
- What are your thoughts on the price increases at Bishopthorpe Road Car Park? Let us know