A scheme designed to improve car parking in Northallerton town centre, where there has been repeated frustration over a lack of spaces, has been passed.
Nine out of ten Hambleton District Council planning committee members voted in favour of the proposals to transform the Crosby Road Car Park by the partnership behind the £17m Treadmills redevelopment of the former Northallerton Prison site.
The meeting was told as the car park is close to the Treadmills site it was planned to be a parking hub to support the businesses part of the development, which also features a cinema and a supermarket.
The development, members heard, would result in provision of 200 car parking spaces, including eight wheelchair accessible spaces, six parent and toddler spaces and provision of four electric car charging points.
However, the changes would mean 32 less spaces at the car park.
Last year residents near the car park and the nearby North Yorkshire Police base said parking problems were “blighting” their lives as staff unable to park at the offices left their vehicles in surrounding streets.
They said the Crosby Road Car Park, less than 100 metres away, is often more than half empty with employees unwilling to pay the £3.20 daily charge, which will initially remain unchanged following the changes.
Members were told Northallerton Town Council had welcomed the upgrade, but had regretted the loss of the car parking spaces.
However, councillors were reassured if a car entered and left the car park within ten minutes no payment would be needed and arrangements would be in place for local residents who use the car park to access their property driveways.
In addition, spaces at the car park would be larger and the development would see four electric car charging points.
The meeting also heard the car park was surrounded on three sides by residential developments, including a retirement housing complex, and a base for The Samaritans.
After the charity’s Northallerton and The Dales branch raised concerns over a number plate recognition camera system monitoring the car park and possible issues over numerous vehicles using its parking spaces, the meeting heard the charity’s staff would not be charged to park there.
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