RESIDENTS in Lindley are joining the fight against parking payments. Kirklees Council’s Cabinet decided last month to charge people £30 a year for residents-only parking permits.

The passes had been free.

Clr Cahal Burke thinks Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Hospitals Trust should pay the annual charge for residents who live near Huddersfield Royal Infirmary (HRI).

Suspiciousminds wasn’t having any of it: “If these residents do get their parking permits paid for, then anyone should be able to park outside their own homes.”

Bailey wanted people to think differently: “Why should homes with drives get permit parking, never mind having their permits paid for? Let’s think – cut social services or charge people for permits?

“Why should the whole of Kirklees pay for permit parking outside people’s homes or should we make it fair and give everyone in Kirklees a permit?”

Norcoop seems to be coming around to the idea: “While there may be some value in the Trust contributing towards some parking permits, they should not be asked to pay for more than one per household.”

LewisD saw a simpler solution: “Had the council just asked for £5 there would probably have been no problem, but with them being greedy and no assurance that a person can park in front of their own homes, then they were asking for trouble before they even started.

“It would be far cheaper to scrap the scheme, mark the streets as residents-only parking areas with one free permit per house and then let the residents police their own streets by reporting cars parked outside their house to the council.

“The council could then instruct one of those extra fast car clamping companies to attend and take a percentage of the money they wangle out of the owner!"

Heaton saw both sides: “My brother-in-law lives in the Lake District and they have to pay £350 annually for a permit for one car so £30 is minute by comparison.

“However, I have sympathy with the Lindley residents as they would not need a permit if it wasn’t for the hospital being near by and patients/visitors not wanting to use the official car park.”