Skipton BID has raised significant concerns with North Yorkshire Council following the announcement of an increase in car parking tariffs from April 2026.

Along with other Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in North Yorkshire – in areas including Harrogate, Ripon and Northallerton – the Skipton team are concerned that an increase in prices has a risk of a negative impact on the local economy and accessibility to the town centre.

As the BID, we always actively encourage both residents and visitors into Skipton town centre to drive footfall and spend into our business community. Footfall is dependent on accessible, affordable parking to maintain the attractiveness of our town centre and the viability of our businesses. An increase in parking tariffs runs the risk of deterring both day-trip visitors and overnight stays into our town centres, therefore leading to disruption to our economy.

Our high-street retailers already face challenges battling with online shopping and regional retail hubs, and an increase in parking charges may push more people to shop elsewhere or online – which could also lead to damage to local business sales.

Under the new tariffs, many car parks across North Yorkshire will see substantial increases, which will disproportionately affect ‘short stay’ visits most associated with local shopping and quick errand trips—which we know is the type of footfall that sustains town centres and high streets.

Visitor behaviour is highly sensitive to cost, so a rise in car parking charges has the possibility of deterring potential visitors to other destinations. All four towns mentioned above, including Skipton, are key visitor destinations and attract considerable visitor footfall on a daily basis, which again is likely to be impacted by increased tariffs.

Skipton, along with the other towns across North Yorkshire, draws in a large working population from surrounding areas each day – covering the majority of business sectors from retail and hospitality, to professional services and education. Affordable, long-stay car parking is already limited in Skipton, so higher tariffs will only create additional personal cost pressure at a time when households and workers are already managing rising living expenses.

Skipton also has limited alternatives for daily commuters when using public transport, so this is not seen as a viable option for the local workforce either. There is no comprehensive local bus network with frequencies suited to shopping, work and leisure in our town and there is no park-and-ride option available.

North Yorkshire BIDs feel that there is a lack of evidence that the rises in parking tariffs will deliver any positive behaviour change – as outlined as one of the goals in the Tariff Rebalancing Report. It’s felt that without sufficient investment in rural transport alternatives, higher charges will not meaningfully or positively change travel behaviour for many residents and visitors.

Grouping together, the North Yorkshire BIDs have formally requested that North Yorkshire Council postpone the implementation of the proposed tariff increases.

We have asked that the Council undertake a full and meaningful consultation with the North Yorkshire BIDs, as the recognised representatives of the businesses within our towns.

We are committed to working collaboratively to develop a fair and sustainable approach—one that enables the Council to generate necessary income while safeguarding the local economy and protecting the vitality of our town centres.

You can read the full letter sent by the North Yorkshire BIDs to North Yorkshire Council here.