Reprieve hope for city’s illegal long-stay commuter car parks

Motorists and business leaders reacted angrily when Leeds City Council revealed its plans to close the illegal long-stay car parks at Globe Road, Sweet Street, Trent Street, Ingram Street, Ingram Row and Water Lane.

But last December the council announced a review saying it had suspended the enforcement action that could have resulted in the car parks closing and next week senior councillors will be asked to back public discussions on allowing 3,000 spaces to remain in place for the next five years subject to improvements and conditions being meet.

The enforcement action, which was later suspended, was triggered when an independent inspector ruled that the car parks were illegal as the owners did not have the necessary planning permission.

Council officers say they are taking on board comments from motorists that closing the car parks will cause them difficulties and add to congestion. Concerns were also raised that the closures could harm businesses.

A report to members of the executive board says: “Over recent years an increasing number of cleared development sites in the city centre, particularly in the areas to the south of the train station, have been made available for commuter car parking without the benefit of planning permission.”

It adds: “Since the appeal decision, arguments have been presented to the council warning that widespread enforcement against the unauthorised car parking spaces could be damaging to Leeds’ city centre economy and pointing out the unfairness to commuters who have no choice but to commute by car. Such arguments have prompted officers to consider alternatives....”

The authority is proposing that an informal policy is now introduced to allow up to 3,000 city centre commuter car parking spaces for a period of five years on unauthorised sites. Operators will need to secure temporary planning permission and make improvements such as ensuring the car park is adequately surfaced and has security lighting.

The report adds: “It is evident that large areas of brownfield land to the south side of the city centre are being used for commuter car parking without planning permission often with little or no attention to visual appearance and presentation.

“The planning process provides the opportunity to secure improvements to the quality and appearance of the sites as well as considering the wider transport policy context.”

The report says the authority remains keen to encourage more people to use public transport and reduce the amount of city centre traffic but says it has to recognise the current economic climate has brought delays to projects and the authority needs to ensure there is a backup in place until such a time as it can forge ahead with alternatives such as park-and-ride schemes and the hoped-for trolleybus project.

The city is currently awaiting a Government decision on its stalled £235m trolleybus scheme.

Members of the council’s executive committee will meet on Wednesday to discuss whether to hold a four-week public consultation on the issue.

Meanwhile Bradford Council is offering free parking to encourage more customers into the Oastler shopping centre and city centre businesses in Bradford.

Shoppers will be able to enjoy two-hours free parking in the centre’s multi-storey car park in Westgate from Friday, April 1, until Thursday, June 30, after 2pm between Monday and Saturday.

In order to take advantage of the offer, subject to availability, customers will have to obtain a two-hour free parking ticket from the pay and display machines and place it in their vehicle.