A ONE month trial of free parking for Otley businesses and their staff will start on Monday (October 2), Otley Business Improvement District (BID) has announced.

Posting on the Otley BID website, Katie Burnett, Chair of Otley BID, said: “We are pleased to announce the provision of over 100 ‘free’ parking spaces near Otley town centre for the use of retail and service-based business owners and staff.

“Wharfedale Farmers Auction Market has generously agreed to allow parking on part of its site at Station Top on weekdays only. Simply access the car park from East Chevin Road, park near the top of Station Road and walk down into the town centre. There will be signage in place to direct you and please see the map below.

“If shop and business staff use this facility it should free up additional and much-needed town centre parking capacity for your customers and clients.

“This is for an initial trial period of one month starting Monday, October 2, 2023.

“If it is successful it will continue into the future, if the town’s businesses don’t use it then it might not.”

Otley BID will circulate a survey via email and its social media channels in mid-October to gather feedback from businesses and to determine the future of the initiative.

The free parking for all Otley business owners and their members of staff will be available from Monday to Friday, 8am to 5.30pm only (after which time the site is locked and there will be no access until the following weekday at 8am).

There will be no access before 8am, after 5.30pm and at weekends.

There is no access via Station Road/Queens Terrace as there are bollards at the top which restricts access.

The free weekday parking for businesses is available from Monday, October 2, to Tuesday, October 31, inclusive.

Any comments or queries in the meantime can be emailed to katie.burnett@otleybid.co.uk

Visit otleybid.co.uk for further information.