Pateley Bridge Town Council is aware of the many problems that residents and visitors to the Showground car park in Bewerley, Pateley Bridge, have been experiencing.
Unfortunately, the owners of this car park recently assigned the management of it to a private company, rather than Harrogate Borough Council, as it was before. This company employed very strict rules which require people to pay in less than 10 minutes after entering the car park, or else face a fine. Fortunately, this 10 minute has been lengthened to 20 minutes, which will help the situation. The management company uses cameras with number plate recognition technology to monitor cars and send fines to people's homes. The large fines are issued even when there are valid reasons for not paying promptly, such as the pay machine not working properly or there being a queue. From our experience, appeals are rarely, if ever, upheld.
Pateley Bridge Town Council is totally opposed to this practice. Unfortunately, this is privately owned land, which is now also privately managed. Therefore we have no control over it whatsoever.
However, we have been and continue to lobby the owners for a fairer approach.
If you are a visitor to Pateley Bridge, we really hope that you choose to come and visit again. There are 2 other car parks in the town, which continue to be run by Harrogate Borough Council in a traditional way. Visitors are always very welcome and we can only express our regret that the showground car park does not currently reflect this sentiment.
You can contact the owners of the showground car park on info@nidderdaleshow.co.uk.