Extended charges may have a wider impact
PROPOSALS TO extend charging hours for parking could eventually have wider impact, Calderdale councillors heard.
The council’s Place Scrutiny Board was debating Cabinet’s decision to extend existing charging hours from 6pm to 8pm in Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and West Vale, to introduce charging in Halifax town centre on Sundays and to introduce Bank Holiday charging in Halifax town centre and Hebden Bridge, subject to a consultation but aiming to implement the changes by September.
But some of the changes might result in streets in West Vale having to become permitonly, and introducing more extended charging in other areas could be considered they heard.
Some councillors were concerned about potential effects on high streets reeling from the impact of COVID-19 against an already difficult trading backdrop.
Head of Neighbourhoods Andrew Pitts said the overall aim of the changes was to make sure the council managed the demand for prime parking spaces in town centres to ensure turnover and availability for shoppers in terms of the daytime and night-time economy, with people wanting to park all day encouraged to use car parks further from the centres.
However, Coun Bryan Smith (Lab, Ovdenden) queried whether extending charging in some areas was fair when other parts of Calderdale were not being affected,.
Coun Sue Holdsworth (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) was concerned drivers at West Vale would be encouraged to use the village’s back streets to avoid paying extra charging.
And Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) said he did not disagree the council had to control its parking but it was the wrong thing to do at this time.
“Businesses and the high street are in very serious trouble right now and what we need in the town centres is to encourage people to come in.
“We ought to defer this across to the end of this calendar year to take into account the changing position regarding COVID-19 and it is difficult to make progress on strategies at a time when businesses are failing.”
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