Residents' views sought on town's parking charges

4 days ago

Julia BrysonYorkshire , Ilkley

News image — Deborah White said the charges make people "think twice" about shopping in town

Julia Bryson/BBC A woman with blonde hair and a dark green puffer coat, wearing cream mittens and smiling outside a shop in Ilkley. — Deborah White said the charges make people "think twice" about shopping in town

People living in a West Yorkshire town are being asked to give their views on the increased parking charges which came into force last month.

The charges, introduced in Ilkley on 19 January, put an end to the one-hour free parking allowed on streets close to the town centre, allowing easy access to its shops, cafes and local services.

Ilkley Town Council, which has always opposed the new charges imposed by Bradford Council, is calling for a "fairer and more workable parking system" and has opened a consultation seeking feedback from those who live and work in the town.

Bradford Council said the charges bring the area in line with the rest of Bradford, and it has no plans to amend them.

In Ilkley, parking charges now apply from 08:00-20:00, seven days a week including Bank Holidays, with street tariffs varying from £1 per hour to £1.50

Only three streets - New Brook Street, Kings Road and Cowpasture Road - retain a single hour of free parking.

Bradford Council has also raised prices in Bradford city centre, with parking charges for existing short-stay streets rising from £1 per hour to £2.

Julia Bryson/BBC A woman with short blonde hair and a navy coat, a man in a blue jacket and grey trousers and a woman with blonde curly hair and a long grey fur-style coat, stand outside a civic building in Ilkley. — Councillors Catherine Cheater and Sean Spence, pictured with Sarah Brookfield-Almond from Ilkley BID, say it is their duty "to represent the views of Ilkley residents"

Ilkley councillor, Conservative Catherine Cheater, said: "I see it as my duty to represent the views of Ilkley residents and to fight on their behalf.

"There has been a gradual withdrawal of services and of making people pay for services which used to be free.

"Before, if people were dropping somebody off or picking somebody up, it was easy to do but now they have to pay £1 or £1.50.

"I decided to put forward a motion because Bradford Council put these changes in without any consultation with Ilkley at all."

Julia Bryson/BBC A woman with blonde bobbed hair and glasses wearing a leopard print coat, green scarf and orange bag, standing on a street in Ilkley. — Marcella Mullan makes regular short stops around Ilkley, delivering food as part of her business The Ilkley Kitchen

Ilkley resident Deborah White, 66, said: "I am a great advocate for shopping locally, but now I am thinking twice about popping into town.

"I think Bradford Council are shooting themselves in the foot a little bit to be honest."

Marcella Mullen also lives in the town and runs her business The Ilkley Kitchen.

She said not being able to park for free during the several short trips she makes each day to deliver her home-cooked food is "pretty unfair".

"It is diabolical, it is unkind, it is unfair - and it puts a lot of pressure on small businesses.

"I pay for two permits outside my home and also a permit outside my business. So that is three permits - and [now] I have to pay to drop off and pick up.

"I think it's pretty unfair."

Julia Bryson/BBC A shop with books and clothes in the window. Above the window is a brown sign with blue writing that reads 'Nora's'. — Many shops have reported a lower footfall since the one-hour charge was introduced

Ilkley shop Nora's also opposes the charges.

Amy Collins, who works in the gift shop on The Grove, said they were "not getting the footfall".

She said: "Figures-wise, it has just dropped off a cliff - it is terrible.

"It is impacting locals more than anyone else, because you just nip in - to go to the pharmacy, to get a coffee. There are always gaps on The Grove now, for parking."

Sarah Brookfield-Almond, from Ilkley BID - which represents Ilkley businesses, said members had been very worried about the changes.

"We are already seeing an impact on businesses - they are getting in touch to tell us."

"So far, year to date, footfall is going down 1.3% when it is going up 0.8% across the UK as a whole.

"We have had a number of businesses close in the past few weeks, and I am concerned that people who would have popped in to pick something else or have a coffee, they are not doing that.

"They are going to out-of-town locations where they can park for free."

A man's hand holding up a parking ticket in front of ticket machine — Parking increased on 19 January in both Ilkley and Bradford City Centre

Residents can share any concerns directly with town councillors at Vitello Lounge, Brook Street, on Tuesday 24 February from 14:30-16:00 GMT, and on Wednesday 25 February from 09:30-10:30 and from 18:00-19:00.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: "Bradford Council has already undertaken a consultation on the parking changes in Ilkley as part of the process for implementing them.

"As a result of residents and business feedback we retained the free-hour parking for 160 on-street spaces on Cowpasture Road, King's Road and New Brook Street.

"We understand parking charges are always an emotive topic, and of course Ilkley Town Council are free to undertake their own consultation.

"However, we have to be clear this is not a formal consultation related to Bradford Council and we have no plans to amend the charges, which have only just been introduced."

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