The Labour-run Calderdale Council is set to impose higher Parking Charges on residents across the Borough.
This comes after the Labour-run Council's disastrous policy in 2021 to extend Parking Charges from 6 pm to 8 pm and to include Sundays. This new imposition will lead to increases of 100% in some areas, which includes Halifax, Brighouse, and Hebden Bridge. The Labour-run Council cannot understand the detrimental effect this will have on our town centres and most importantly the residents. As a consequence of this policy, footfall and expenditure will fall because residents and families will have less to spend in our town centres, leading to adverse economic effects that will cause unemployment and the closure of more retail businesses. The Council should have the foresight to match the Conservative Government's actions of spending millions to revitalise town centres across the Borough, with Halifax receiving £11m, Brighouse £19m, Elland £6m, and Sowerby Bridge £2m, through a Council strategy of reasonable Parking costs and opportunities for free Parking.
In reaction to the increases, the Conservative Group Leader, Councillor Steven Leigh, said, "Sometimes the Labour Leadership will declare that they must make 'difficult' decisions. We agree that there are some difficulties with the new parking charges: Difficulty in understanding the logic of such huge increases. Difficulty to comprehend the lack of compassion towards Calderdale residents, many of whom are struggling to get by. Difficulty to imagine that revenues will actually increase. Difficulty to believe how we can revitalise our highstreets and town centres, which are already in decline when such moves by the Cabinet will only further reduce footfall and endanger jobs and prosperity in the retail sector."
Please find the petition below:
We, the undersigned, are deeply concerned and opposed to the increases to Parking Charges across the Brighouse and the wider Borough by Calderdale Council. The increases of 100% in some cases will undoubtedly have a detrimental impact on footfall in our town centres and only exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis. We strongly urge Calderdale Council to postpone the increases and undertake a full review of Parking Charges across the Borough to consider more frequent opportunities for free parking to ensure our town centres prosper and ease the burden of rising inflation.
In Brighouse charges across the Town Centre will increase by 100%. This includes Commercial Street, Market Street, Bradford Street, Gooder Street, Park Street, Bethal Street, Briggate, and King Street. This imposition will affect many residents across the area, including those in Hipperholme and Rastrick, who use Brighouse Town Centre. Brighouse businesses also reject the Council's actions, with 92% of the businesses in opposition to the increase in on-street charges and 100% in opposition to the off-street charges.
We strongly urge the Council to change course and match the Government's actions to revitalise town centres in Calderdale, with Brighouse receiving £19 million, by keeping parking costs more reasonable to ensure that people visit the town centres, especially after the investments have been complete
