Drop in parking revenue revealed as spaces are lost in Skipton (From Craven Herald)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting CHNEWS to 80360, or email
Drop in parking revenue revealed as spaces are lost in Skipton
8:00am Friday 15th February 2013 in News
The development will lead to the loss of car parking behind the town
The loss of car parking revenue due to Skipton’s new town centre café and shops development could be under £2,000 per year.
In the best-case scenario – without a deepening of the current economic climate – Craven District Council stands to lose £1,620 next year though the loss of 104 car parking spaces behind the town hall.
The review, taking into account occupancy levels of the past five years, showed that the High Street and town hall car parks were underused and capable of swallowing up any shortfall.
In the worse-case scenario, if people stopped coming into the town, that figure could leap to £67,550.
At an audit and governance meeting, councillors were reassured about the impact of the development on visitor numbers and car park revenue and it was revealed talks had been taking place between the council and B&M Stores about the purchase of some of its car park.
Nicola Chick, interim finance manager, told councillors the review had taken into account the loss of car parking spaces behind the town hall and the temporary loss of car parking at Coach Street car park while Yorkshire Water carried out its flood relief work.
She said the review had shown that although almost a quarter of the car parking spaces available at the High Street and town hall car parks would be lost, there would still be sufficient spaces to cope with demand, based on current levels of occupancy.
She said the review had not just taken into account last year’s occupancy rates, but those of the previous five years to ensure the 2011/12 figures were not just a “blip”. “With all things being considered, the capacity of the car parks is adequate for the situation as it is at the moment,” she said.
Hazel Smith, assets and projects manager, confirmed that initial discussions had taken place with B&M Stores, on Broughton Road, about the council buying some of its parking spaces.
