Controversial parking plans to be introduced in Ilkley town centre later this month
Controversial new parking charges will be introduced in Ilkley later this month.
Revised on street parking charges will be bought into force in the market town starting on Monday, January 19.
The proposals by Bradford Council will see the cost of parking on some of the city’s streets almost double.
The local authority says the changes will “introduce a simplified tariff structure which will be easier for visitors to understand and will improve the customer experience.”
But when the price hike was announced some business owners raised fears the charges would put off visitors to the city centre.
The new arrangements include revised charging hours in some locations, alongside new pay and display provision in areas that were previously free to park.
In Ilkley town centre, several residential and commercial streets will have pay and display parking between 8am and 8pm, seven days a week including bank holidays.
They will be priced at £1 per hour with maximum stay periods applying to blue badge holders.
After a consultation process that led to a huge amount of objections, New Brook Street, Kings Road and Cowpasture Road will provide over 160 parking spaces which retain the free hours parking.
Coun Alex Ross-Shaw, executive member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “We have listened to feedback from local people and businesses, and these carefully-considered revisions reflect that valuable input. These changes bring our on-street parking charges into line with neighbouring authorities and reflect some of the feedback we’ve had over the original proposals.”
Changes will be rolled out gradually during January and February, with signs and machine displays updated with the new tariffs.
Full details of the Order, including a complete list of affected streets and tariff codes, will be available from January 16 on the council’s website and at Customer Services Reception in City Hall, and at Ilkley Library.