Bingley residents with views on Bradford District Council’s proposed imposition of evening and Sunday car parking charges in the town can contact Town Councillors Joe Wheatley and Andrew Quarrie with their comments.
The councillors, who both represent Bingley Central ward, will be collating feedback about the planned charges to include in a report to be discussed at the next Town Council meeting on 27 March at Eldwick Church Hall. In addition, residents and traders can make their comments directly to Bradford Council.
The proposed changes in Bingley are new charges at the Bradford-run car parks at Main Street, Queen Street, Ferncliffe, Waterloo, Wellington and Bingley Arts Centre – a £1.00 evening charge Monday to Saturday 6.00pm to midnight and a £1.00 all day charge on Sundays.
Cllr Ros Dawson, chair of Bingley Town Council, said: “The surprise announcement has been met with criticism by many who fear that the new charges will be a barrier to visitors to the town and have a negative impact on Bingley’s shops and businesses.
“I urge everyone to make their views known. We have been told by Bradford Council that people can object for any reason they believe the changes should not be implemented. They can also suggest an amendment.”
An objection period is now open and comments can be registered individually by writing to legalobjections@bradford.gov.uk by12.00 noon on the 23rd March 2018.
Residents can also send their objections or comments to Cllrs Joe Wheatley or Andrew Quarrie (joe.wheatley@bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk / andrew.quarrie@bingleytowncouncil.gov.uk) by the same deadline. Please put ‘car parking objection’ or ‘car parking comment’ (for those wishing to comment rather than object) in the subject line of the email.
Bingley Town Council has been granted an extension to the objection period and will therefore be considering a report at its meeting on 27th March and responding formally the following day.
Bradford District Council has said that all objections received will be responded to individually. All the objections will be presented in a report for senior officers. An executive committee will then determine if the order is to be progressed, removed or amended.
Once again CBMDC have demonstrated that more revenue from “soft” sources is more important than the needs of the people of Bingley. Introducing these weekend and evening charges hits directly at the tourist needs of Bingley. In particular the car park adjacent to The Arts Centre and those at St. Ives are well used by visitors. The Arts Centre was a very neglected building when it was under the control of CBMDC. Under the new management of Bingley Little Theatre it is a flourishing facility drawing in many visitors who frequently park in the main car park or the smaller one in Wellington street. This proposed evening and weekend charge to park is blatant profiteering on the back of other people’s voluntary efforts.
The notice says Bingley library has the plans and details to view.
I have been in the library both Monday 5th March and again Friday 9th March and they dont have them. Bradford Met seem to be in the wrong with this.
Susan Hart
I realise that the proposed charges are not high compared to some other towns, however Bingley does need to increase its footfall for it to move forward, and anything that deters than is an issue. Therefore these charges need rethinking.
The town has struggled to regenerate itself. This increase will not help whatsoever. The town has suffered with the rerouting of the buses this will not help at all.
I think this may be the case already in most Bradford Council car parks now. I’m not sure it will affect businesses as there are plenty of places where you can park free for an hour (as well as the supermarkets’ own car parks).
It would be great if the town council could improve the off road walking routes into town and get good clear signs with mileage info etc. (A bit like the cycle route signs.) This would encourage people to walk more which is healthy, sociable and enjoyable, and helps the environment. Just on another related point, I notice all the local towns but Bingley now have a charging point for electric vehicles. It’s the future so it would be good for Bingley to keep up with the rest.
Bingley needs all the help it can get to ecorage visitors & shoppers.
Keighley has a several car parks that are free on Sunday.
Introducing charges on a day when people have got considerably more time to travel & shop will discourage them to visit the town.
It is hardly surprising that such action is being taken. Discussions within my circle on this matter will make it unlikely to now venture into Bingley during an evening and Sunday. I feel it will directly impact on the area, with the only winners being the council.
Maybe Bradford Council need to look at ways of finding ways to stop wasting money within the council departments instead of either cutting services, that we pay for in our ever increasing rates, and these extra charges.
Thank you all for your comments. They will be considered when the Council compiles it’s response.
Kind regards,
Laura Jowett
Administrative Officer
Leave well enough alone.
Charges for parking in Bingley are fair and reasonable at the moment but the proposal to charge for evenings and Sundays leaves me cold. These proposed charges will further deter visitors and locals in to Bingley centre when the opposite approach will attract people. Why not make it clear around the Town that Evenings & Sunday parking is free and show a positive approach rather that alienating potential residents and visitors.
Any financial benefit to the City Council will be bourne multiple times over by the losses incurred to many small businesses in the Town.
I say a very for strong “No” to this proposal in the interests of ongoing “Progress for Bingley”.
BDMC have, over several years, approved plans for several pubs, wine bars and eateries in Bingley. They now seem to want to ‘cash in’ on the night time economy by charging for parking in spite of the increased take in business rates. The sooner Bingley extracates itself from BDMC the better.
Regarding these new out of hour charges, will parking wardens be needed 6pm to midnight and during the day on Sundays? How much revenue will be coming in as a result? By implementing these extra charges it may well reduce the footfall in Bingley town centre just when it was beginning to come alive again.
Dear Michael,
Thank you for your comments. The Bradford Council consultation for parking charges will be an item on the March Town Council agenda. The meeting is being held on Tuesday 27th March at 6:30pm at Eldwick Church Hall. Members of the public are welcome to attend the meeting as observers.
Kind regards
Ruth Batterley
Town Clerk
07703 188660