A DRIVE to attract more people to shop locally have triggered calls for a disc parking scheme to be introduced in Selby.

Selby Town Council has decided to ask for a free parking scheme in Selby, similar to ones run in other Yorkshire market towns, so that local people can park for a few hours for free and use shops and businesses.

At a meeting on Monday evening, the council backed a call from Cllr Melanie Davis for the introduction of a district-wide disc parking system.

Cllr Davis said: “The introduction of two hours free parking across the district would provide encouragement for shoppers, whilst providing encouragement for long stay car park users to use the appropriate car parks.”

The district council is currently asking people in the area for their opinions on how parking should be run and what charges should be made.

Cllr Steven Shaw-Wright added: “We need the district council to encourage shoppers in to the market towns of the district and two hours free parking would go some way towards this.”

Cllr Shaw-Wright said that on a visit to Richmond - where a disc parking scheme runs - he saw a steady stream of people parking for a short period and using local shops and banks, providing valuable trade for the town’s businesses.

The district council has drawn up a new parking strategy, and until Monday, December 12, is looking for comments about the overall charging policy and the look and feel of car parks.

Councillors say they want to make best use of the car parks to support local businesses and visitor numbers, by looking at tariffs and looking for ways to free up parking spaces for people using local businesses in Sherburn and Tadcaster.

The consultation also looks at the problems of people avoiding council car parks, which have to be paid for, and instead parking for free at supermarkets or other big shops, to the detriment of those businesses.

Details of the consultation are online at www.selby.gov.uk, and it has been discussed at community engagement forums across the district in the last two weeks.

Comments can also be submitted in writing to Car Park Strategy Consultation, Corporate Policy, Selby District Council, Civic Centre, Doncaster Road, Selby YO8 9FT.