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The parking fiasco: £120,000 shortfall after drivers shun street bays
A NEW parking scheme by Calderdale Council has become a costly mistake.
Brought in during November 2006, it meant paying parking charges on many more streets around Halifax town centre. And an army of parking wardens was hired to enforce the regulations.
But so many motorists are refusing to pay and instead parking elsewhere. There is too little income to pay their wages.
And instead of breaking even council officials are left trying to plug a 120,000 shortfall – which could mean a hike in parking charges.
Now the parking squad is running with only two thirds of its original manpower to save money.
Council spokesman David Kirton said: "We cannot absolutely rule out increasing charges but we need to see the results of a comprehensive review before that happens."
Such a review is about to get under way and should be completed in late summer or early autumn.
Deputy Conservative leader Stephen Baines (Northowram-Shelf) said the decision to scrap a plan to charge 2,500 residents 25 for parking permits had also added to the financial problems.
Calderdale Council took over parking responsibility from the police in November 2006.
Conservative councillors hope to reduce operating costs in 2008/9 by 40,000 by handing over the management of the 21 parking wardens to a private firm.
In the meantime, seven of the 21 posts are being deliberately kept vacant, which in turn is having an effect on enforcement and income generation.
Councillor Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe), who has cabinet responsibility for regeneration and development, said enforcing parking charges and rules was an important means of traffic management.
"Without it, there would just be anarchy with motorists parking anywhere.
"It has to be controlled and any profits put back into making parking safer and more secure," he said.
Meanwhile, experts are being sought to carry out detailed tests on the Cow Green multi-storey car park in Halifax which needs urgent repairs costing more than 2 million.
The review will also look at proposals for a multi-storey car park at High Street, Halifax, opposite the Halifax Playhouse, residents' parking permits and the general distribution of parking places in every town.
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Saturday 11 February 2012
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