Fees for some parking permits have been backed by Kirklees councillors.

But Kirklees Council has pledged that every household in a parking permit zone will get one free permit – with only a £15 charge for additional permits.

And councillors have said the authority will re-think permit zones if 60% of residents in each zone want it axed.

Clr David Sheard, council leader, said: “There is no point in us having permits in areas if people don’t want them or they’re not working.”

He responded to residents who queried need, enforcement and the cost of the new system.

Currently there are 4,350 resident permits, 4,325 visitor permits, and 1,600 specific permits covering 160 parking zones.

Read more: Revealed: list of streets where new parking permit charges could be introduced by Kirklees Council

Kirklees Council, some years ago, proposed a £30 fee but it was dropped amid opposition.

The latest proposal was put out to public consultation and the Cabinet Local Issues panel heard from residents before ruling on it on Wednesday.

Pamela Longhurst, on behalf of residents living around Meltham Road, said: “Our main issue is it’s not policed regularly. We have got people parking to go to the cemetery or go for a walk... we’re paying for something where people are parking illegally anyway because nobody is ever caught.”

Janet Baker questioned if Holly Grove in Lindley needed to be in a permit zone, saying it was introduced 20 years ago when there was a teacher training college nearby. She said the Grove was alone as neighbouring streets were not in permit zones.

Kirklees to charge for residents parking permits - visitor permit.

Pamela Garlick said Thornhill Avenue in Lindley had a one-hour parking limit to assist the local shops but queried how long shoppers needed to pick up a Chinese or newspaper.

She added: “One car has been outside my house since 8.30am (four hours earlier) with no permit and no traffic wardens and you expect us to pay for a permit when we can’t park outside our house but other people can for free.”

Clr Sheard said: “I’m sympathetic to the issues, but these are about individual areas not the issue of the fee which is why we’re here. If anybody wants to request to take their area out of the permit scheme it can be done if 60% of residents in that the area agree. There are 8,000 permits and only 40 objections to this order, lets put that in perspective.”

Kirklees Council Leader-Elect David Sheard.
Kirklees Council Leader David Sheard

Clr Peter McBride added: “There are two issues, one is that people object to paying anything, the other is that they think it should be done with appropriate policing – it’s a point we recognise.

“For individuals you will get one free permit, for anything additional there is going to be a small charge.

“We have no right to be able to park outside our own houses, the roads are public highways. Permit schemes are a recognition of problems in some areas. This (fee) is to cover administration.”

The Cabinet members backed the order.

All households affected will be contacted ahead of the changes which come into force next February.

After the meeting Clr Sheard said: “We have heard what people have been saying about enforcement, it’s about being smarter at enforcement.

“We can’t be everywhere putting tickets on cars, but if we have a system where there are three or four cars in an area without permits we could have a reporting system for that.”