An independent review of car parking charges in three York locations has launched following calls from traders and residents.
City of York Council has appointed consultants Arup to carry out the review into charges in Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate and The Groves.
Council city development lead Garry Taylor said it was vital for residents, workers at businesses or owners of them to have their say.
Arup director Richard Bickers said they were looking for residents and businesses to give their views about the impact of this year’s parking charge increases and possible ways forward.
The statutory reviews have been triggered by petitions lodged under the Traffic Management Act 2004’s Right to Challenge Parking Policies.
It comes after the Bishopthorpe Road Traders’ Association (BRTA) called on the council to begin work on the review more than seven months after requesting one.
The request followed the hiking of parking charges across York city centre to £4.85-an-hour for the first two from Sunday to Thursday.
Increases approved as part of the council’s budget for 2025-6 also set charges at £5.30-an-hour on Fridays, Saturdays and during events.
The hikes initially saw charges in Bishopthorpe Road rise from 80p-an-hour, but they were lowered in June to £3-an-hour all week following a backlash from traders.
Charges in Micklegate were temporarily lowered after being raised to the standard £4.85/£5.30 rates.
Cllr Kate Ravilious, the council’s Labour transport spokesperson, said at the time the changes came in response to a petition from traders calling for them to be reversed.
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.
But the BRTA said ahead of the consultation’s launch they were still waiting for the opportunity to fully and formally present their objections to the charges through a review.
In response, Cllr Ravilious said initial proposals had been to conduct a broader review which would look at parking charges along with the high street and sustainable travel improvements.
She added officials had been in regular contact with traders in recent months but they had since confirmed they wanted a review solely in line with the Traffic Management Act.
York’s Business Improvement District (BID) also called on the council to say when the review would begin ahead of the launch of the consultation yesterday (Wednesday).
The consultation is set to run until Monday, 2 February.
People can take part in the consultation online and paper copies are also set to be available from libraries and shops in the affected areas.
The council is set to published the results of the review following the closure of the consultation ahead of the outcome of its decision.
Arup Director Mr Bickers said they would present the findings from the consultation to the council once it ends.
People can take part in the consultation online here.
