York residents face ‘nightmare before Christmas’ due to new parking restrictions
Councillors say York shoppers are facing a ‘nightmare before Christmas’ as new parking rules come into force.
They have hit out at the introduction of a ‘sneaky’ four-hour limit on car parking at Clifton Moor Retail Park.
Lib Dem ward councillors have written to the shopping centre managers asking why the new restrictions were necessary, and requesting that they review the restrictions if residents are being fined unfairly.
Cllr Darryl Smalley, Lib Dem Councillor for Rawcliffe & Clifton Without said: “We were really disappointed to see these parking restrictions, which affect one of York’s key shopping destinations, being put into place just before the busy Christmas and Boxing Day period.
“The first we knew of the parking restrictions was residents getting in touch, concerned at the ambiguity of the new rules.
“Whilst boards state that there is a four-hour limit on parking, enforced through cameras, it is not clear whether that is four hours in one block, a total of four hours in a 24-hour period, or whether it is permitted to leave and come back later in the day.
“We have seen at Tower Court Car Park nearby, where parking charge notices are handed out like confetti to vulnerable residents committing such crimes as needing to use the pharmacy more than once in a day, that these systems can have many unpredictable and deeply unfair consequences.”
Cllr Derek Wann added: “We’re calling on the owners of Clifton Moor Car Park to reconsider the introduction of this scheme, which seems to be a solution to a problem that simply doesn’t exist.
“Clifton Moor Car Park is never full so it is hard to see this as anything other than a sneaky money-making exercise – and one that will particularly affect those that might need longer to shop, such as the vulnerable and elderly.
“The introduction of this scheme, a few weeks before Christmas, and with little clear signage is deeply worrying.
“During the cost-of-living crisis, with many families struggling this year, residents being hit by an unfair parking fine really would be a nightmare before Christmas.”
We have contacted Clifton Moor shopping centre, and will update with their response if it comes through.
Some people go to shopping centres and visit a lot of shops taking their time and making it a day out, spending 5 hours or more going around shops. The owners of the shopping centres are basically telling the people who visit these places unless you only come here with a specific purchase in mind don’t bother, go online and buy the stuff.
If a person goes to the same place two times in one day then the parking firm in charge of parking could try and fine the person, like they tried with a family member this year.
These places are called shopping centres for a reason and that is because they have a lot of shops and sometimes the visitors want to browse around many of the stores there whether they buy anything or not, then there are those that visit the centres to buy their weekly shopping and are in and out within 90 minutes.
Firstly this is private land that is maintained, not a pot holed car park surface to be found here, the litter is collected, and no graffiti, all at a cost. Some people cannot park within the lines of a bay, wasting spaces, or blocking the way. Others use it as a park and ride to commute to work, or lift share. Secondly the council drove people out of town to shop with their own high parking charges, traffic restrictions and discrimination against the disabled.