Bradford parking charges hike sparks night time economy fears

Plans to extend parking fees by 100% can have a detrimental influence on Bradford’s economic system, a civic society has mentioned.

Proposals to extend short-stay metropolis centre parking from £1 per hour to £2 per hour, would result in a “actual threat” of companies closing attributable to a drop in commerce, Bradford Civic Society mentioned.

Drivers would additionally see on-street night parking rise from a £1 cost between 18:00 and midnight, to £2 per hour between 18:00 and 22:00.

A session on parking adjustments in Bradford started on 11 June and can run till 2 July.

Bradford Council mentioned fees for short-stay on-street areas within the metropolis centre – together with streets like North Parade, Darley Road, Sunbridge Highway, Kirkgate and Westgate – would rise “consistent with parking on-street in neighbouring native authority areas”.

In response to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Bradford Civic Society has written to the council to object to the plans.

The letter states: “Bradford Civic Society objects to the proposed preparations, that are more likely to have a detrimental influence on the industrial viability of streets across the ‘Prime of City’ space — specifically North Parade and Higher Piccadilly.”

The civic society mentioned the North Parade space had change into established as “a vacation spot for impartial hospitality companies within the metropolis centre, with specific emphasis on the night-time and night economic system”.

The society mentioned underneath the brand new proposals a customer may pay “upwards of a further £9” to park which could possibly be thought of “an unreasonable worth rise and will change into a deterrent for future visits”.

It added: “A customer presently paying £1 to park on North Parade to buy off-sales or different objects is dealing with a 100% improve for what could also be thought of a fast excessive avenue journey.”

The civic society requested the council to “please rethink these proposals”.

It additionally raised considerations over the potential for enterprise closures on account of the hike in parking fees.

It mentioned they might be “notably dangerous to the town centre through the UK Metropolis of Tradition 12 months, particularly when extra footfall and a lift to the native economic system was promised”.

A Bradford Council spokesperson mentioned all responses to the consultation could be thought of with folks inspired “to have their say”.