Parking Charges - A Welcome First Step For Wetherby

The papers being published today for next week’s Executive Board include a recommendation to review district centre parking charges, including those in Wetherby, Guiseley, Horsforth, Garforth and Rothwell.
This is a welcome first step.

When these charges were proposed, more than 6,000 people in Wetherby alone responded to the consultation, with around 97% objecting. Residents, businesses and community organisations were clear that these charges would damage our town.

Over the past year, many of the concerns people raised have sadly become reality. We’ve seen parking displaced onto surrounding residential streets, confusion over the payment system leading to unnecessary fines, volunteers having to pay simply to give up their time, people facing difficult choices about work, and businesses telling us they’re seeing fewer visitors. Even the main car park has often been noticeably quieter at times when it would previously have been full.
Throughout this campaign I’ve been proud to work alongside local residents, businesses and community groups, together with colleagues from the Liberal Democrats, the Social Democratic Party and independent councillors, to keep making the case that these charges weren’t right for district centres like Wetherby.

This has been a genuine cross-community effort across Leeds. I’d particularly like to recognise the work of Paul Alderson in Guiseley and Chris Calvert in Horsforth, together with Liberal Democrat colleagues, the Social Democratic Party and independent Councillors in Garforth and Morley, who have all worked hard to make the case for change in their own communities.

The recommendation will now be debated at Full Council tomorrow before Executive Board considers it next week.
Nothing has been decided yet, but I hope this marks the beginning of a different approach at Leeds City Council—one that listens more carefully to local communities and is prepared to change course when the evidence shows a policy isn’t working.

This is also a reminder that when Councillors from different political backgrounds are prepared to work together in the interests of local communities, we can achieve better outcomes than simply following party lines.

If the review is approved, I will also be pressing for it to include parking charges at our city parks, including Roundhay Park, Golden Acre Park and Otley Chevin, where many residents have raised similar concerns about the impact of these charges.

There is still plenty more to do. I’ll continue pressing for practical action on the issues residents raise with me every day—from tackling speeding and fixing potholes to securing investment in Wetherby and giving local communities a stronger voice over the decisions that affect them.

Finally, thank you to everyone who responded to the consultation, signed petitions, shared your experiences and refused to let this issue be forgotten. This recommendation is an important first step, and a reminder that when local communities stand together and keep making their voices heard, they really can make a difference.

Alan