I wanted to give a quick update on Leeds City Council’s plans to impose parking charges in Wetherby.

While the council still seem determined to press ahead, there is still a long way to go and I am determined to keep fighting the charges.

At the council’s February budget, I put forward alternative ways that the council could raise the £100k they think they would raise from introducing this charge in Wetherby. The proposals were costed and signed off as robust by the council’s Chief Financial officer, they were supported by every other opposition party on the council but voted down by the ruling Labour administration.

At the time of writing, the Council still hasn’t published the results of it’s own consultation, almost 3 months after it closed. I am led to believe that the council’s own highways departments have raised concerns, in particular, the displacement of parking onto residential streets that would then require costly interventions.

I remain firmly of the view that parking charges would be a disaster for Wetherby.  I don’t believe they would raise the money the council expects which could lead to further charges in other car parks such as Boston Spa.  I will continue leading the campaign to get these charges scrapped.

Alan