York Residents Challenge Parking Charges On Bishopthorpe Road

Ever noticed how a small change can make a big difference? Imagine popping to the local shops for a loaf of bread, and suddenly the parking that used to cost a quid now costs a lot more. It’s annoying, right? Well, for a lot of people in certain parts of York, this isn’t just an imaginary scenario. The local council recently decided to put up the price of its car parking charges, and folks aren’t too happy about it. But this isn’t just a case of having a good old moan. People are actually doing something about it, and it’s all kicking off with an official review that started on Wednesday 17 December 2025.

What’s all the fuss about the parking?

It all comes down to a price increase for council-owned parking in specific areas of York, namely Bishopthorpe Road, Micklegate, and The Groves. After the council announced the new, higher car parking charges, local residents and the owners of businesses in these areas decided to act. They felt the change would have a real impact on their daily lives and livelihoods. Think about it. If you’re a resident, finding and paying for parking near your home is already a bit of a faff. A price increase just adds to the stress. And for the local shops, it’s a genuine worry. If customers have to pay more for parking, they might just decide to go to a big out-of-town supermarket instead. That’s bad news for the small, independent businesses that make these areas so unique. This is why a proper review of the situation is now underway.

The community’s right to challenge

So, how did a bunch of unhappy residents and businesses get the council to launch a full-scale review? They used a pretty powerful tool called the ‘Right to Challenge Parking Policies’. It sounds a bit formal, but it’s actually quite simple. It’s a law that gives ordinary people the power to officially question a council’s parking decisions if they think they’re unfair. To get the ball rolling, the community came together to create a petition. A petition is basically a formal request signed by lots of people. Once enough signatures were collected, the council had to take notice. It meant they couldn’t just ignore the complaints. They had to trigger a formal process to look into the issue properly. This whole thing is what’s known as a challenge consultation, and it’s a great example of local people making their voices heard about a local issue. It's their legal right to challenge a decision they disagree with.

Who is running the independent review?

To make sure the review is fair, the council has handed the job over to an outside company. They've appointed Arup, a firm known for its work in design and engineering, to conduct a completely independent review. Having an independent party involved is a good thing because it means they don’t have a vested interest in the outcome. Their job is simply to look at all the facts, listen to what everyone has to say, and come up with an unbiased report. The person leading this from Arup’s side is Director Richard Bickers. He's made it clear that hearing from the public is the most important part of this whole process. Richard Bickers said: “We are asking local residents and businesses to give their views about the impact of the price increase and the actions they think the Council should take going forwards.” “Once the consultation ends in February, we will be presenting our independent report to the Council so it can make a decision on this issue.” This shows that the feedback from the consultation will directly shape the final report that goes to the decision-makers.

How you can have your say in the consultation

This is where everyone else comes in. The consultation is now live and it’s a chance for anyone affected to share their thoughts on the car parking charges. It doesn't matter if you live there, work there, or just visit the shops from time to time. Your opinion matters. The consultation runs until Monday 2 February 2026, so there’s plenty of time to get involved. There are two main ways to take part:

• Online: You can fill out the survey by visiting the council's consultation website.
• On Paper: If you prefer, paper copies of the survey will be available in local libraries and various shops in the affected areas.

Garry Taylor, the Director of City Development at the council, is also urging people to participate. The department of city development is very keen to hear what people think about the parking situation. Garry Taylor said: “Whether you’re a local resident, own one of the businesses in these areas, are employed by one, or you visit the shops on a regular basis, its vital you have your say.”

What happens after the consultation ends?

Once the deadline passes on 2 February 2026, the real work begins for Arup. They will gather up all the responses from the public and analyse them carefully. This information will form the backbone of their independent report. The report will summarise what people said about the impact of the price increase and will likely suggest some possible ways forward. This report will then be handed over to York City Council. The councillors will then have to consider the findings before they make their final decision on the car parking charges. Will they keep the new prices? Will they lower them? Or will they come up with a completely different plan for parking in these areas? Whatever the final decision is, the council has promised to publish the full independent review and the outcome on its website, so everyone can see how the conclusion was reached. This is a big moment for the residents and businesses of Bishopthorpe Road and Micklegate, and it all started with a simple petition.