Extended Calderdale parking charges could have wider impact on towns

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 permit-only, and introducing more extended charging in other areas could be considered in the future, 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, for example Todmorden.

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, particularly on the high street,” he said.

Mr Pitts said the situation at West Vale would be monitored and if problems with displaced parking occurred a possibility was introducing residents’ permit schemes.

In the case of towns not listed, like Brighouse and Todmorden, the former was subject to masterplanning covering a wide range of issues and the latter’s on-street parking was free so there were no charges to extend.

But, Mr Pitts said, “that does not mean that in the future there could not be a similar extension in Brighouse and we might wish to suggest that as part of the consultation.”

Coun Dave Young (Lab, Calder) said he thought it was strange the council did not charge for Bank Holidays in Hebden Bridge.

“But it’s a bit sneaky extending charging in the evening,” he said.

Cabinet member for Neighbourhoods and Communities, Coun Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden) said she wanted to make it clear changes were nothing to do with the financial effects of COVID-19 to raise extra money but planned policy against a background of modest charges in Calderdale compared to other authorities.

“We had a peer review last year and other authorities coming in couldn’t believe how cheap it was,” she said.

Compared to prices people who used public transport had to pay these were modest measures, said Coun Press.

Coun Roger Taylor (Con, Northowram and Shelf) said he understood the need to charge but he was concerned about the impact on the night time economy.

But Coun Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab, Calder) said in Hebden Bridge the most expensive car park was 60p for an hour: “The last night out I had, I spent considerably more than 60p so we have to have a certain amount of perspective.”