Drivers face end of two-hour free parking under new council plans

Senior councillors are poised to agree to proposals to scrap two-hour free parking across the Wakefield district.

Other recommended changes include increasing charges at most car parks, launching a consultation on the introduction of a £1 evening parking rate and “monitoring arrangements” for parking on Sundays.

The Reform-led authority said a review found two-hour free parking, which was reintroduced last year under the previous Labour administration, had “made little difference to footfall in city and town centres.”

Defending the changes, Keith Anderson, the council’s cabinet member for highways, transport and planning, described the decision as “unsustainable and irresponsible” as it had cost £1.8m.

Further recommendations in the report, set to be decided on October 20, include introducing a free 30-minute on-street parking period and removing a 15p fee to pay for parking digitally.

The proposed £1 evening rate would apply between 6pm and 8am.

Coun Anderson said: “We’ve inherited a parking offer that the council was never able to afford and was unsustainable and irresponsible.

“This has resulted in the whole community effectively subsidising parking costs and it is putting services that residents rely on at risk.

“We’re taking the action needed to plug the black hole in our budget so we can start maintaining our car parks better, improve our whole parking offer and do the right thing for local taxpayers.”

The “holistic parking review” document also proposes introducing on-street parking charges in Horbury, as well as making changes to resident permit and season ticket charges.

It recommends re-instating off-street tariffs based on those in place in April 2024 but adjusted for inflation.

Coun Anderson said: “Council-run car parks will remain very competitive for parking when compared with both private operators and other major destinations across our region.

“The 30 minutes free on-street parking and removal of the convenience charge are affordable and practical and will help motorists and businesses.

“Put together, this is a balanced and responsible parking offer that delivers value for money.

“It makes sure we can improve these services for our residents and can support the businesses who rely on good quality parking for their customers, whilst not financially impinging on other essential council services funding.”

The report said data gathered during the review showed the two-hour concession had led to a “a significant reduction in off-street parking income.”

It added: “Whilst the policy has provided a benefit to motorists and supported access to local centres, it has also had a notable impact on the council’s parking income and the funding available to support the operation, maintenance and improvement of parking services and associated assets.

“This resulted in the council having to inject funding from the base budget into the service to ensure costs continued to be covered.”

Two-hour parking charges were scrapped shortly before Christmas last year in a bid to boost the local economy.

Previously, two-hour free parking had been put in place at off-street car parks at the start of the Covid pandemic in April 2020.

Charges were then brought back in April 2023 to tackle a £24m budget shortfall.