DRIVERS could face parking charges in many more areas of Huddersfield.
Councillors are examining plans to start charging in village centres across Kirklees.
But shopkeepers have hit back over the plans to look at introducing blanket parking charges across Kirklees.
Council officers are looking at the possibility of extending fees across other population centres including areas such as Almondbury, Aspley, Waterloo and Lockwood.
Questionnaires will be sent out later this month asking people about their perceptions of parking in their district.
Leader of Kirklees Council's Labour Group Clr Mehboob Khan said extended charges would hit shoppers and businesses hard.
He said: "This is a barmy idea. I am angry and intend to fight any proposals that seek to introduce charging to areas such as Marsh, Golcar and Birkby.
"Smaller local centres are an essential part of the community and any loss of businesses would severely affect local people."
Business people agree.
Fiona Reading owns Simply Lighting in Wakefield Road, Aspley. She opened the business in October, choosing the site because of its free parking.
"Part of the reason we came here was the parking outside the shop and it's a busy road. I don't think charges would benefit anybody."
Alan Mellor, a partner in Mellors Florists at Westgate, Almondbury, was also against the idea.
"If they start charging for the little car parks outside the centres it's going to kill off a lot of village life," he said.
A spokesman at the Electric Beach tanning salon in Westbourne Road, Marsh, said trade would be hit.
"I think it would affect our business.
"If they introduce a fee I don't know what people will do."
She believed the move would simply be a way of gaining revenue for Kirklees.
"If the council want to do it they'll do it. Who is it going to help other than the council?" she said.
A feasibility study looking into extending charges was suggested last year.
The study into 26 towns and large local centres should be finished by September.
A report to be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Panel for Transportation next Tuesday highlights reasons for the study.
Officers want to look at the volume of parking spaces, enforcement by traffic wardens, safety and traffic problems and whether there are any improvements needed and how they would be funded.
Changes could include parking permits, more waiting and loading restrictions and more parking facilities.
