Kirklees Council agrees to axe free parking in car parks across the borough

Kirklees Council’s cabinet has approved to introduce fees at 15 of the borough’s car parks including in Cleckheaton, Mirfield, Birstall and Batley.

It has also approved an increase in the cost of residential parking permits from a one-off £15 payment to a £35 annual charge.

Visitor permit charges will also be rising, with a £60 yearly fee to be paid, where previously a single permit was free.

Jamie Ellison, chair of the Town estate and Springbank estate tenants and residents’ association said residents living near John Smith’s Stadium in Huddersfield were being “punished”, and described the council’s approach as “petty penny-pinching”.

“We only have the problems on match days and concert events and due to the council benefitting by millions at the expense of some of the most vulnerable people in Kirklees and some of the poorest people in Kirklees who do depend on their cars – I know some taxi drivers won’t come near the estate if there’s a match on – these people are already struggling to afford to live on a daily basis.”

Cabinet member for Environment and Highways, Coun Munir Ahmed, explained that the matter has been discussed with officers who would be ‘looking into it’ further.

Also approved at the meeting were new fees for 15 car parks across Kirklees’ towns and villages that are currently free.

Previously, the council had planned to roll out charges across 57 car parks but had paused the plans for review and subsequently scaled them back.

Councillor Ahmed said: “Thousands of local residents responded to public consultations on both parking proposals. In light of this feedback, one of our first decisions as a new cabinet was to pause the initial proposals and conduct a thorough review.

“Parking charges have remained static for the last 14 years. Unfortunately the current financial climate means the council is no longer able to sustain the price freeze.

“But we’ve listened to concerns and we think the new plans are proportionate and fairer for residents and businesses.

“The proposed introduction of parking fees and increases to residential permits are not decisions we take lightly and it’s important we balance the financial needs of the council whilst taking into consideration local views.”