York Micklegate Parking Charges Cause Outrage — How to Appeal Your Fine

York Council has paused new parking charges on Micklegate after intense criticism from local businesses, churchgoers, and residents. The changes — which saw parking prices jump from £1.20 to as high as £10.60 — came into effect suddenly and left both visitors and traders feeling blindsided.

What does this mean for drivers? And what can you do to appeal a parking ticket it you got one. Let’s break it down.

Appeal your York fine with Resolvo in just 2 minutes - it's completely free

What Happened?

Earlier this month, the council introduced steep price hikes for parking on Micklegate, a busy high street in York. The increases removed the cheaper half-hour option, raised hourly rates, and scrapped Sunday morning exemptions — a long-standing grace period that allowed worshippers to park for free while attending church.

York On Street Parking Charge 2025

New rates

£5.30 for up to 1 hour and £10.60 for up to 2 hours (Friday–Saturday)
£4.85 for the first hour and £9.70 for up to 2 hours (Sunday to Thursday)

These were a dramatic jump from the previous 60p (half-hour) and £1.20 (hour) charges.

The aim? The council said it was trying to reduce car use and align costs with public transport. But for many locals, it felt like a surprise penalty for simply living, working, or visiting the area.

Local Businesses Fight Back

Business owners along Micklegate weren’t informed about the changes until they were already in place — meaning customers were caught off guard too.

Amy and John Hughes, who’ve run Cads of Micklegate barbershop for 30 years, said it felt like punishing loyal clients.

“It’s like we’re charging people extra just to come in,” they told reporters. “We had no warning — we couldn’t even tell our customers.”

Many traders joined a petition calling for the half-hour option to be reinstated, especially for short visits.

Churches Impacted Too

Churchgoers at St Mary's Bishophill and other nearby churches were also shocked to discover the Sunday exemption had been removed — just ahead of Holy Week.

Angela Carter, a church warden, said many members of the congregation are elderly or disabled and rely on nearby parking.

“We weren’t consulted, and now some of our most vulnerable members are struggling to access church.”

York Council Hits Pause

In response to the backlash, the council agreed to suspend the new charges on Micklegate while they review the policy. Officials now plan to meet with affected traders and community groups before deciding whether to reinstate, revise, or drop the new prices altogether.

Common Reasons to Appeal a Parking Fine in York

If you've got a parking ticket in York you may have a strong case to challenge a PCN if:

The parking signs were unclear or missing
You were only a few minutes late (and grace periods weren’t applied)
You had a valid permit or paid ticket
You weren’t the driver at the time
You parked due to an emergency or breakdown
The RingGo app or payment machine failed
Confusing or poorly marked bays or zones

Appeal Your York Parking Fine with Resolvo

Resolvo is a free tool to help anyone appeal their parking ticket. It is updated all the latest information and designed to help you have a strong case when appealing for your parking ticket.

Upload a photo of your ticket
Tell us what happened (we’ll guide you through it)
Get your custom appeal letter — instantly

It takes under 2 minutes, and it’s based on real UK parking laws — including what applies to York.

👉 Start Your Appeal Now

Time Limits for York PCNs

If your fine was issued by York Council, you usually have:

14 days to appeal from the day it is issued and still pay the reduced fine
28 days to make a formal representation

If your fine was from a private company, the rules vary slightly — but you generally have 28 days to appeal or escalate to POPLA (Parking on Private Land Appeals).

What If My Appeal is Rejected?

If the council or company rejects your appeal, you can usually escalate to an independent tribunal:

For council-issued PCNs: Traffic Penalty Tribunal
For private firms: POPLA

Resolvo can help at this stage too — just return to the tool and update it on your situation.

Final Thoughts

Whether your fine came during the recent changes in parking charges or under more routine circumstances, you don’t have to accept it without checking your options.

If it feels unfair, confusing, or just plain wrong — Resolvo will help you write a strong appeal to fight it .

Appeal your York parking fine for free → Start here