A PILOT car parking scheme in Grassington, due to be scrapped in April, is to remain in place for a further year with slight changes.

Last January the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority bowed to pressure from the district's chamber of trade to alter the parking rate to encourage more visitors.

The authority agreed to a trial period of one year, beginning on April 1. The charges were changed from £1 for an hour to £1 for two hours, and the all-day waiting charge of £2 was made £3.

The move was to make it more attractive for people to spend longer in the village at the cheaper rate.

"Sometimes visitors seemed to be blaming the shopkeepers for the rates and often commented they felt they were high," said former chamber of trade chairman Martyn Fretwell.

However, the national park's finance and resources committee had suggested reverting the charges back to the original rate because the authority said it had lost more than £5,000 in expected revenue.

County Coun Shelagh Marshall said she was going to write to the committee to express her concern that the pilot scheme was not being given long enough to become established.

Now, members of the authority have voted to continue the scheme, but with slight amendments to the rates to encourage the long-stay visitor. The rates will be £1.50 for two hours and £2 for all day.

Jon Avison, head of park management, said: "Visitors using our car parks not only generate essential income to fund our conservation work, but also provide much needed custom for local shops and businesses.

"Having run the pilot scheme for a year, we have realised the need to finetune the charging structure, not only to protect our income, but also to encourage visitors to stay longer."

The pilot scheme was also run at Dent, and will continue for another year at the amended prices.

Charges at other national park car parks will remain at the 2002 levels - £1 for one hour and £2 for all day parking. Coaches with seating for more than 16 passengers will still be able to park for free, except in the Horton and Aysgarth car parks which are not suitable for coaches.

National park residents can claim a free parking permit.