Parking in North Yorkshire is set to become easier and more efficient than ever before, thanks to a £2.5 million investment plan by the county council. The ambitious project aims to update the county’s car parks with new, solar-powered payment machines and improved lighting, making it easier for drivers to park while also delivering long-term savings for taxpayers.
The plan will see the installation of 430 new parking machines across North Yorkshire, including in on-street parking spaces and the two multi-storey car parks with barrier control systems. The new machines will replace the current aging technology, which is often prone to glitches and doesn’t always meet modern needs. These machines will allow drivers to pay using cash, card, or even an app for the first time, making payment more convenient and accessible.
The council is also planning to replace old sodium lighting with new LED heads, which are more energy-efficient and less likely to fail. This £400,000 programme will improve safety and security across the car parks, which will benefit both visitors and local residents.
Cllr Keane Duncan, North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for highways and transportation, said: “We’re working to transform our parking service by delivering much-needed improvements to ensure car parks are easier to use, safer and more efficient than ever. Our record £2.5 million investment package will deliver key benefits for everyone who uses our car parks, while at the same time delivering essential cost savings for our taxpayers.”
He continued, “Right now, some of our car parks appear unwelcoming and are in a poor state of repair. The technology is outdated, with most machines approaching the end of their working life. Some are now 20 years old and prone to glitches. We know the experience can often be frustrating for users when machines suffer malfunction. We also know visitors are often surprised to find that some of our car parks only accept cash payments.”
The improvements are expected to generate savings of £587,000 every year, contributing to the council’s efforts to reduce costs while enhancing the user experience. The new machines will be ticketless, reducing the need for staff visits and maintenance. This, combined with the solar power feature, will make the car parks more environmentally friendly as well.
In addition to the new machines and lighting, the council plans to update signage across car parks to meet legal requirements and provide clearer information for users.
This investment, which will be considered by the council’s executive next Tuesday (April 15), represents the largest-ever car parking upgrade in North Yorkshire’s history. Cllr Duncan said, “We are proud to be giving our car parks the attention they deserve by bringing forward this record improvement programme.”
