City set to scrap two-hour free parking

Two hours' free parking could be scrapped across Wakefield under new proposals from councillors.

The change, set to be decided on 20 October, would also see changes in resident permit charges and increased on-street parking fees with a free 30-minute period, along with the launch of a consultation on a £1 evening parking rate.

A review found that the changes, if applied across the borough, would raise more than £1.8m for Wakefield Council.

Two-hour free parking on off-street car parks was reintroduced in November last year, after first beginning in April 2020 before being scrapped in April 2023.

A report on the proposal to scrap the free parking said: "Whilst the policy has provided a benefit to motorists and supported access to local centres, it has also had a notable impact on the council's parking income and the funding available to support the operation, maintenance and improvement of parking services and associated assets.

"This resulted in the council having to inject funding from the base budget into the service to ensure costs continued to be covered."

While on-street fares would rise, there would also be a 30-minute free parking period to "support quick visits", the report said, with Sunday parking remaining free.

Further changes include scrapping the 15p charge to pay for parking digitally on the MiPermit app, while the proposed £1 evening rate would apply between 18:00 and 08:00.

The report said: "The implementation of these measures is expected to create a more balanced and sustainable parking operation whilst ensuring that parking assets continue to contribute positively to the local economy and transport network."

The report also said that keeping the status quo would limit the council's ability to invest in modern technology and customer services.

It said: "Whilst this option avoids the introduction of any changes that may initially be unpopular with some users, it does not address the underlying financial and operational challenges currently facing the parking service.

"Parking income would continue to be constrained by existing charging arrangements at a time when operational, maintenance and infrastructure costs continue to rise."

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