The recent Calderdale Council changes made to car parking charges are as follows:

• Existing charges in Halifax (short stay), Hebden Bridge, Sowerby Bridge and West Vale will be extended until 8pm.
• Charges will also be extended to Sundays and bank holidays in Halifax town centre short stay car parks and on-street spaces
• Bank holidays will also become chargeable in Hebden Bridge

I asked the Council to review the impact these changes are having on local businesses and local residents, following a number of complaints I have received.  Hospitality businesses are reporting cancelled bookings, regular customers who are now irregular, pre 8pm bookings unpopular, customers choosing to spend their money in restaurants away from the town centre.  Small business owners saying they are losing customers as they no longer want to come in to the town.  Numerous residents are saying they will now avoid the Halifax Town Centre. 

The council's response was not supportive of a review and summarised with the following paragraph: " So far we have had little resistance to what are relatively modest changes that, ultimately, should retain the necessary balance of affordability with traffic management and wider Council priorities."

After the last 18 months, surely we must demonstrate active support for our towns and local businesses, instead change has been implemented to take that support away from them.