Decision made over extending charges in Calderdale's car parks

Considering a 700-strong petition opposing extending evening charging hours at some car parks at Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and West Vale to 8pm, introducing Sunday charges to Halifax, and Bank Holiday charges to Halifax and Hebden Bridge, Calderdale Council’s Place Scrutiny Board heard the decision was not being implemented until it was clear what the impact on businesses particularly might be because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Presenting the petition, Coun James Baker (Lib Dem, Warley) said everyone could accept prices had to rise in line with inflation, that was recognised, but some car parks were being singled out.

“This has got so much traction because it is introducing new charges at times where there weren’t charges.

“They are not being introduced everywhere – why pick on West Vale but not Brighouse?” he said.

Additional evening charges were particularly concerning, he said.

“It will impact on hospitality trade – it is a sector that is hanging on by its fingernails and we don’t know what will happen when furlough ends,” said Coun Baker.

Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) said she entirely agreed about challenges faced by the hospitality industry and said at this stage Cabinet was not going to implement the decision it had taken last June.

It wanted to see what the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses was, she said.

A decision was valid for two years, after which it would have to be reconsidered, Coun Lynn told the board.

Coun Lynn said she was unhappy with the way the petition was phrased.

“The idea we are trying to ‘sneak’ this through is wrong and I consider it quite offensive,” she said.

Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) agreed the proposals were not “sneaked through.”

“But that doesn’t mean I agree with it.

“I think we should delay this implementation in view of the desperate state of the high street, not just in Calderdale. We need to do everything we can to increase footfall,” he said.

Coun Baker said he was sorry if the phrasing was in any way offensive – it was not personal but just the language of politics similar to that used by all parties when campaigning.

“I am glad to hear it is not going forward at this time,” he said of the increases.

Aside from revenue issues, Coun Roisin Cavanagh (Lab, Luddenden Foot) said that in the long term it was other goals the charges were aimed at tackling including climate change, by getting people out of cars and onto public transport, that were important.