Half a dozen questions from residents unhappy at proposals to increase amounts charged to park at Shibden Park, Halifax – historic estate of Anne Lister of TV’s Gentleman Jack fame, which became a public park around a century ago – were faced by Calderdale Council cabinet members.

With the 50p for an hour’s parking set to rise to £1 (100 per cent increase) and the more than five hours rate from £1.50 to £5 (almost 300 per cent increase) in proposals now agreed and enacted by Cabinet, the residents expressed their unhappiness.

But councillors said there was a reasonably priced alternative – which they admitted needs to be promoted better and is only available to residents with a Calderdale postcode.

People have been dismayed by the huge parking charge rises at Shibden Park

This annual virtual parking permit is available for Shibden Park at £100, greatly reducing the costs to less than £2 per week for regular attenders, said Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Coun Jenny Lynn.

Coun Lynn said the registration number on these can be switched to different vehicles.

“It costs £100 per year and allows unlimited visits to the park and the car park there. Even those just visiting once a week, that would equate to £1.92,” she said.

In public questions to cabinet members, councillors agreed with questioner Gillian Poole that the park was a “jewel in the crown” for Calderdale.

Ms Poole said Cabinet had agreed some years ago that parking pricing should meet the needs of all, there were concerns around reduced footfall and with a 300 per cent increase its affordability for people.

Other questions were read out by the council’s head of legal, Ian Hughes, on behalf of the writers.

Jill Burrows said the increase would have a huge impact on those who used the park, which had been given to the people, and asked if this impact had been considered.

Robert Trout criticised the size of the rise and said: “Shibden is a family park and this increase will seriously affect low income families who wish to access this beautiful outside space.”

Gary Newell was also concerned about the effect on young families, where people could take their children to the park for a picnic and a relatively cheap day out.

“A family looking to come to the park five days a week over the school holidays are looking at £25 a week just on parking charges – the level of increases proposed is frankly astonishing,” he said about the changes.

Operator of children’s amusements at the park, George Hemingway, asked the cabinet to reconsider the proposals, and Jon Meynell said: “Do you not think we are having a tough time generally?”

Mr Meynell added: “Places such as Shibden Park should be encouraged to be visited, if only to help people’s mental health – why should they be penalised further with an increase to parking charges?”

As well as publicising the permit, Coun Lynn said reasons for increasing charges were including being competitive with similar nearby venues, including Hardcastle Crags and Littleborough’s Hollingworth Lake, and both a need to try and encourage people to leave their cars and travel there by other means such as public transport but also increase revenue from charging those who did come by car.

Councillors heard money raised from parking charges can be used in the upkeep of Calderdale’s highways with some members saying funding local authorities receive for maintenance falls woefully short, necessitating measures like these.

Shibden Park: Parking charges go by up to 300 per cent at Yorkshire landmark linked to Gentleman Jack's Anne Lister