Dales parking charges rise

Extra income will be used to protect the Dales environment

Car park charges in the Yorkshire Dales are to go up next year to raise more cash for environmental work.

From April, the all-day rate at the national park's 12 sites will rise from £2 to £3 and the minimum stay will be increased from one hour to two hours at a charge of £2.

That means annual revenue will rise from £385,000 this year to between £435,000 and £485,000, says the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

People who live within the park boundaries will still be able to claim a free parking permit.

Trade boost

Jon Avison, the authority's head of park management, said: "The income generated by visitors to our car parks makes a vital contribution to our work to care for the wildlife and landscape of the park.

"We have resisted increasing any charges since before the foot and mouth crisis, but we now feel it is timely to review the charging structure."

He said a pilot study at Grassington and Dent car parks had showed that visitors were "happy to pay a little bit more".

By increasing the short-stay time limit, it was hoped more visitors would be encouraged to stop longer and explore the area, boosting trade for local shops and businesses.