NEW parking rules are to be officially imposed on Skipton High Street setts after confusion and claims, earlier this year, that traffic wardens were pouncing like "piranhas" on motorists.

Waiting is to be limited to just one hour from 6am and 6.30pm between Monday and Saturday.

The present restrictions, allowing two hours on non-market days, are to be scrapped from Monday.

The default position on market days will still be no parking, but the new regulations give the town council the option to open up for parking if it is appropriate to do so.

Parking will only be allowed if there is sufficient space to allow parking to take place safely and without impacting on traders. Parking will not be allowed for, say, a small gap between stalls if just one trader doesn't turn up. But it will be allowed on days where there is a substantial stretch of the high street clear of stalls.

Cones and barriers will be used to prevent parking in these smaller spaces and the council will be using additional signage to make it clear where people can park. Motorists are being urged to check the new signage.

Dave Parker, chief officer of Skipton Town Council, said: “The new arrangements should be much fairer for everybody.

"They will help the council protect the space needed by traders on market days, but will allow us to open up the High Street for parking when there is space available – on bad weather days, for instance, where it’s not possible to hold the market.

"The new one-hour limit should also make it easier for those who just need to nip into town to go to the bank, or pick up a couple of items from the shops.”

“We’ll be working closely with colleagues in the Civil Parking Enforcement team and we’ll be doing our very best to make sure that it’s very clear when and where you can park, and for how long.

"We’ll be using additional signs, traffic cones and barriers where we need to and our town centre ambassadors will be on hand to offer advice during the early days of the new scheme.

"I would ask drivers to keep a lookout for the signs when parking on the High Street. If everybody does that, there will be no need for anyone to get a ticket!”

The regulations relate to High Street, parts of Newmarket Street, Caroline Square and Sheep Street. Fines will range from £25 to £105 depending on when they are paid.

The new rules follow a recommendation from Craven Area Committee that a new order was vital for the commercial wellbeing of the town.