Ilkley District Councillor Andrew Loy has commented after Bradford Council announced last week that it had “listened to residents’ concerns” about parking proposals which include removing the 1-hour free street parking, and has offered an alternative.
The report, which will be presented to the Council Executive this week, recommends that the one-hour free parking is retained in some streets within easy walking distance of the town centre, these being New Brook Street, Kings Road and Cowpasture Road, a total of 161 spaces. Whilst evening and Bank Holiday charging is implemented more widely.
Cllr Loy said:
“The hour of free parking would only be retained on three outlying roads, and would really equate to less than an hour after taking into account the time to walk into the town centre and back. Apart from that, the Council is offering no other concessions and is pushing ahead with proposals for evening and bank holiday charges.
“The original proposals were projected to raise £657,000 per year, and the revised version will only reduce that by 13%.
“Yes, the changes are better than nothing, but only in the same way that it is better if a burglar leaves you 13% of your possessions, rather than taking absolutely everything.
“Bradford Council already receives over £1 million per year from pay and display parking in Ilkley. After this new hike, it will be more than five times the amount it would cost to bring back Ilkley Tip. It’s time we saw some of that money being put back into our town.
“It is not too late to change course. I urge the Council’s Executive to withdraw these proposals entirely and go back to the drawing board.”
A report is going to the Council’s Executive Committee on Thursday this week, 2 October.
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