Free on-street parking in Ilkley could end (From Ilkley Gazette)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting IGNEWS to 80360, or email
Free on-street parking in Ilkley could end
10:49am Thursday 15th December 2011 in News
Free on-street parking in Ilkley could end
Free on-street car parking in Ilkley town centre could be scrapped by Bradford Council in a move condemned by ward councillors and business leaders Bradford councillors are studying proposals drawn up by officers to charge 60p per hour to park in one of Ilkley’s 100 on-street parking spaces during the day.
The authority says it will improve access to town centres and stimulate trade by creating a higher turnover of customers. But ward councillors claim the charges could be a threat to the “fragile” retail market, and could lead to more parking in residential streets.
Charges in Ilkley would generate £54,000 for Bradford Council each year, according to estimates. A report is to due to be studied by Bradford Council’s Keighley Area Committee tonight.
The review of parking charges is suggested as part of wider transport policies for the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.
Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) said: “It could be a threat to an already fragile retail market, but a possible bigger problem to residents in the area fringing the town due to displacement parking from those attempting to escape charges.
“The item going to the area committee states that this review is necessary to improve parking capacity. That’s a little disingenuous. This is undoubtedly to raise revenue.”
Read more in the Ilkley Gazette.
Comments(5)
Bob Ulhat
says...
2:19pm Thu 15 Dec 11
Smokin'O
says...
3:14pm Fri 16 Dec 11
robin22
says...
8:58pm Mon 19 Dec 11
Aren't we lucky, there are people walking 100 yards or more to get water in parts of eastern Europe, people are dying of drought in Africa and we can afford to spend 24 million quid on squirting coloured water out of the paving stones!
pjl20
says...
5:08pm Thu 22 Dec 11
It is important for those who disagree with this measures to express their disapproval if they do not want parking charges in the town.
Parking has been a problem in our over-crowded town for too long. Why? Because no formal plan has been put forward about how to resolve this issue. Introducing parking fees will not solve the problem only move the cars to streets further from the centre causing congestion elsewhere for residents.
A new low-level multi-story car park is required, ideally near to Ilkley train station, the small car park nearby is full by 7.30am weekday mornings.
The site to be vacated by Tesco is most suitable. Why do we need a new Care Home in the town centre on this site? Plenty of homes exist in our town already with several large empty buildings available for such use if so required.
Bradford MDC has a rotten record on many planning issues and parking is one issue that should be dealt with locally by our Parish Council, not by Bradford over 10 miles away.
Our 'high street' which is full of independent and successful private business ventures needs your support to ensure we do not drive our shoppers away and into the new Tesco Superstore with it's free parking.
baldybogey says...
2:06pm Thu 15 Dec 11