Plea to end parking charges at popular beauty spot

Councillors have called for parking charges at a beauty spot to be scrapped after they claimed visitor numbers had plummeted.

Otley Chevin was among a number of public parks where Leeds City Council introduced fees last year to raise much-needed funds.

It costs up to £4.50 per day or £10 per month to park at the site, which is popular with tourists.

But Liberal Democrat councillors representing the market town said the charges have had a devastating effect on both the park and nearby town.

Otley and Yeadon councillor Colin Campbell said: "We believe that the charges have been a disaster for the area because the number of visitors to the Chevin has dropped quite dramatically.

"This tax on fresh air, which is in effect what it is, means that people are now looking at other locations and in many cases just not going out for a walk or a stroll with the dog."

Last year, Leeds City Council introduced fees to use the car parks at its public parks - including Otley Chevin, Temple Newsam, Middleton Park, Golden Acre Park and Roundhay Park - as well as at several other locations outside the city centre.

Fellow councillor Sandy Lay said: "You only have to look in the car park now and you'll see that it's empty.

"It's the middle of the school holidays and people are no longer coming up to the Chevin because they are being put off by the car parking charges."

There have been charges to use town car parks in Otley since the 1990s.

The council has launched a review of town centre parking charges brought in last October in Wetherby, Horsforth, Rothwell, Garforth and Guiseley.

But parks including Otley Chevin are outside the remit of the review.

A council spokesperson said discussions were now being held with the Otley councillors.

The spokesperson said: "Following feedback from the public and local representatives, the council has determined that the parking charges introduced in October 2025 at a number of district centre car parks will be subject to a structured review.

"The review is specifically focused on those locations where charges were introduced as part of the October 2025 scheme.

"No other off-street parking locations are currently within the scope of the review."

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