THREE car parks could be sold off in Brighouse, a councillor says.

Clr Colin Stout says that the busy Daisy Street car park in Brighouse is one of three earmarked to be sold off.

And the two car parks either side of the old swimming pool on Mill Royd Street could also go as hopes grow the site could finally be regenerated.

But it will mean the loss of 183 spaces in the town and the income they generate each year, both in car park charges and the boost shoppers bring to the local economy.

Clr Colin Stout says allowing Daisy Street car park to be sold would hit the town badly.

He said: “Not only does it generate income, but it means people have somewhere to park and go into their local town and do their shopping, which is what we should be encouraging people to do.

“If you get rid of the car parks it makes it harder for people to come into Brighouse and I worry they won’t do if they struggle to park.

“I am quite happy for the old swimming pool and two smaller car parks to be sold, but selling Daisy Street car park is too much.”

Daisy Street car park charges just 30p for an hour or 60p for two hours. The maximum charge is £3 for up to ten hours parking.

Millroyd East has 22 parking spaces and Millroyd West 26 – both with the same charges.

They are three of five car parks in Brighouse – all on the periphery of the town centre.

There are also free parking spaces within the town centre, where residents car park for up to an hour.

They were the source of controversy after it was revealed private hire taxis were parking in the spaces at Market Street, Commercial Street, Bethel Street, Thornton Square and in town’s bus station, making it hard for shoppers to get a space.

Taxis are now banned from parking in the spaces during the day time.

Clr Stout added: “I can see this site around Sugden’s Mill needs to be regenerated.

“If we can sell the old swimming pool and the two smaller car parks then fair enough, but to get rid of a big car park will not be good for the town.

“They generate income but these talks could come to something and I think we need to protect Daisy Street car park.”

Calderdale Council’s head of democratic and partnership services, Ian Hughes, said: “Letters have been sent to all ward councillors seeking their views on a proposal to dispose of the former Brighouse Pool, Daisy Street car park and adjacent land.

“No decisions have been taken and consultation with ward members is a standard procedure in all cases like this.

“The council has a legal duty to obtain the best possible price for the land and, in this case, that could mean a direct one-to-one transaction with Younger Homes, which owns adjacent land and has already indicated that it would wish to develop the site.

“Ward councillors have been asked to submit their views to the council by January 21.”