PARKING restrictions on a small Huddersfield road have damaged business, traders claim.
Residents-only permits were introduced on Fieldhouse Road earlier this year after complaints from householders about parking problems.
But businesses based on the road and neighbouring Canal Street say there was never an issue.
And they say the scheme is stopping staff and customers being able to use the road.
Richard Hicks, who owns Acorn Pressure Wash cleaning equipment company, said: “Kirklees Council wrote to us to ask us what we thought about the idea and a couple of us wrote back to object.
“Then we didn’t hear anything until the planning application went in and suddenly permits were introduced.
“There was only ever a maximum of about five cars parked here during the day, so there was no need for it.
“They have put permit-only bays outside businesses which have nothing to do with the houses.
“We’ve been told we can pay £115 a year for a permit but we can’t ask staff to pay that and I don’t understand how they can give us a permit if there’s a problem with us parking here – if there’s a problem, there’s a problem. As far as I can see it’s just a money-making scheme.”
James Ellis, of shed company Shed City, on Fieldhouse Road, said there had only been problems with sports fans using the road on match days at the Galpharm Stadium.
He said: “We have had problems with customers who want to come and look at the sheds and not being able to park outside.
“As soon as they park on the road, wardens are jumping on them and ordering them to move.
“It’s affecting business.”
Janine Trayers, who runs Woody’s Cafe on Canal Street, said other business’s customers were parking outside the cafe.
She said: “I need parking spaces. If people drive past and can’t park, they just leave.
“Things have gone really quiet in the last few weeks. Businesses are struggling enough without this sort of thing.”
Jacqui Gedman, head of Kirklees highways department, said there had been full consultation on the issue.
She said: “The aim of the scheme was to improve the lives of local residents.
“Indiscriminate parking on a number of streets in the Leeds Road corridor has been a longstanding problem for local residents and one which the council had been asked to address.
“The scheme that has been introduced has been developed over a long period of time in full consultation with local councillors and resident groups.
“Every property and business was asked for its views and formal advertising of the proposals also took place.
“We are aware that some businesses are unhappy that the areas of unrestricted areas of parking are not extensive, but any objections the council received were all resolved locally before the scheme was implemented.”
