Proposed parking charges at five Calderdale Council car parks scrapped

Parking charges which were set to be introduced at five Calderdale car parks have been scrapped, the council’s new leadership has announced.

Charges were shortly to be introduced at Ogden Water car park at Ogden, Halifax, Beech Street car park, Elland, John Street car park, Elland, and two Towngates – one at Towngate, Heptonstall, and the other at Towngate, Northowram.

These have been scrapped, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Public Services, Coun Peter Hunt announced.

Additionally, charging changes which are set to be introduced at Brighouse are being paused for further review.

But charging changes at some other car parks in Elland, Skircoat at Halifax, Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge will be coming in.

Leader of the Council, Coun Dan Sutherland commented on the changes which had been approved by his Labour predecessors: “I think it as an example of perhaps a lack of common sense or a thought about the consequences for local people when that was being pushed through.

“So I greatly appreciate your intervention there and stopping the ones where it was most appropriate to stop them,” he said of his Cabinet colleagues.

Coun Hunt said at the August meeting of the Cabinet that the previous administration developed and approved the proposals as part of their budget and income generation plans.

The new administration had undertaken a full “root and branch” review involving himself, cabinet member for highways and transport Coun Darren Commons and council officers.

“To be clear, to reach the full savings originally proposed last year, these increases would need to have been implemented in April.

“And due to meeting budget targets, parking charges will be implemented in Elland, Skircoat, Sowerby Bridge and Hebden Bridge,” he said.

But, Coun Hunt said, “while some previously agreed tariff changes had already been implemented, many of the more contentious proposals to introduce new charges, extend charging hours and expand parking controls are currently being paused and will not be proceeding at this time.

“This includes proposed new charging schemes at at a number of car parks and on-street locations across Calderdale.

“While this decision will reduce the additional income originally anticipated within the budget, we are still on target to meet our planning income target this year.”

The administration’s decision reflected concerns raised by residents, businesses and local communities during the consultation process, said Coun Hunt.

“I can confirm today that increases in Brighouse have been paused for further review and the following locations will have no charges implemented and remain free – they are Ogden Water car par, Ogden, Beech Street car park, Elland, John Street car park, Elland, Towngate car park, Heptonstall, and Towngate car park, Northowram.”

Coun Sutherland said “some of the, let’s say, less sensible proposals” had been tackled and noted his Cabinet colleagues had personally met with residents at Heptonstall.

He said parking charges was an area the council would continue to give consideration.

“We are very keen that people are able to get into our towns, find a parking space, be able to pay an affordable price foe the parking space and then go and do their shopping and leisure so we can keep our businesses in our towns thriving,” said Coun Sutherland.

He also noted a petition which had been raised by Northowram residents about the Towngate proposals, with resident James Brezinski asking a question about the issue in the meeting’s public question time session.

Coun Sutherland said: “A good win for the people of Northowram, I know that a petition was raised about that and it’s clear that that one has now been stopped.”