Council to decide on introducing parking charges

Charges could be introduced at car parks including Lidget Street in Huddersfield

A council will decide next month on controversial plans to introduce fees for currently free car parks and increase the cost of residential parking permits.

Kirklees Council had planned to bring in charges across the borough’s towns and villages to help remedy its financial challenges.

But the proposals were paused in July when the council's new Labour leader Carole Pattison announced there would be a review.

A report is due to be published ahead of a meeting on 8 October which will set out the way forward.

Petitions launched

The council said it had been consulting with Kirklees Active Leisure over bringing in the charges, as well as with businesses and town and parish councils.

The authority has already raised parking charges across Huddersfield, Dewsbury and Holmfirth, with the cost of all-day parking rising to £6.50 in some locations.

The proposals would also see the cost of residential parking permits increasing by more than 200%, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The plans have proved unpopular, with several petitions launched in opposition, and hundreds of letters written to the council in objection.

Councillors from different political parties have also criticised the move along with Spen Valley MP Kim Leadbeater, who has called for the plans to be scrapped altogether.

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