Kirklees Council says `No’ to parking charge cuts

Nov 4 2009 By Neil Atkinson

COUNCILS across the country are slashing parking charges to try and help town centres fight the recession.

But Kirklees Council has no plans to follow suit.

The council is offering some free parking in the run-up to Christmas.

But it has no plans to cut charges in the pay and display car parks and on-street parking areas – including the Kingsgate centre.

Councils that have taken action include York, Swansea, Wolverhampton and Southampton.

They have made cuts of up to 50% in parking charges after shopkeepers complained the effects of the recession were hitting trade.

A Kirklees spokesman said: “There is currently a major initiative underway in Dewsbury at Cliffe Street and there are further free parking already announced for Huddersfield and Holmfirth for the Christmas period.

“These concessions exceed those of previous years.

“In addition there are many small towns and villages throughout the district that have the benefit of no parking charges at all and these include Batley, Birstall, Cleckheaton, Heckmondwike, Honley, Marsden and Mirfield”.