Bradford parking charges hike sparks night time economy fears

Plans to increase parking charges by 100% will have a detrimental impact on Bradford’s economy, a civic society has said.

Proposals to increase short-stay city centre parking from £1 per hour to £2 per hour, would lead to a “real risk” of businesses closing due to a drop in trade, Bradford Civic Society said.

Drivers would also see on-street evening parking rise from a £1 charge between 18:00 and midnight, to £2 per hour between 18:00 and 22:00.

A consultation on parking changes in Bradford began on 11 June and will run until 2 July.

Bradford Council said charges for short-stay on-street locations in the city centre – including streets like North Parade, Darley Street, Sunbridge Road, Kirkgate and Westgate – would rise “in line with parking on-street in neighbouring local authority areas”.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service Bradford Civic Society has written to the council to object to the plans.

The letter states: “Bradford Civic Society objects to the proposed arrangements, which are likely to have a detrimental impact on the commercial viability of streets around the ‘Top of Town’ area — namely North Parade and Upper Piccadilly.”

The civic society said the North Parade area had become established as “a destination for independent hospitality businesses in the city centre, with particular emphasis on the night-time and evening economy”.

The society said under the new proposals a visitor could pay “upwards of an additional £9” to park which could be considered “an unreasonable price rise and could become a deterrent for future visits”.

It added: “A visitor currently paying £1 to park on North Parade to purchase off-sales or other items is facing a 100% increase for what may be considered a quick high street trip.”

The civic society asked the council to “please reconsider these proposals”.

It also raised concerns over the possibility of business closures as a result of the hike in parking charges.

It said they would be “particularly harmful to the city centre during the UK City of Culture year, especially when more footfall and a boost to the local economy was promised”.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said all responses to the consultation would be considered with people encouraged “to have their say”.