Council to press ahead with parking charge plans

Plans to introduce charges at six car parks could raise more than £330,000 each year for Leeds City Council.

The authority is planning to scrap free parking at the sites in Wetherby, Horsforth, Garforth, Rothwell and Guiseley.

The plan was opposed strongly when it went to consultation in December last year.

Surveys found between 84 and 96% of respondents were against charges and thousands of people signed petitions against the changes.

A council report said: “This is not surprising given that people are being asked to pay for something that they have considered to be free.”

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) said the council was seeking to press ahead with the charges, which would be in place between 08:00-16:00,  Monday-Saturday, as it faced a multimillion-pound budget gap.

If the proposals were approved, charges will apply at Wilderness and Station Gardens in Wetherby, Fink Hill in Horsforth, Barleyhill Road in Garforth,  Marsh Street in Rothwell and Netherfield Road in Guiseley.

The council report said the estimated annual revenue for charges at the six sites was £335,500 in total.

Drivers would get up to one hour for free, then pay £1.15 for two hours, rising to a daily maximum of £3.65. Weekly tickets would cost £12.15.

Blue badge holders would be exempt.

Charges would be lower at the Wetherby Station Gardens car park, where up to three hours would be free because it is used by sports teams.

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