Credit: Hannah Craven
“Parking is a real problem in town”, says Huddersfield business owner, as Kirklees Council car parking costs rise again in June.
Kirklees Council upped the parking costs for the first time in 15 years back in April 2024, with all-day parking costs rising from £4 to £6.50, and this is set to rise again in June.
Increases will come into effect from the 9th of June, bringing the cost of all-day parking to £6.70. Following prices remaining static for 15 years, Kirklees Council’s cabinet decided that car parking costs should rise annually, in line with inflation.
Smaller council carparks will see hourly charges increasing by 5p per hour. The increases aim to reduce inequality in terms of parking charges across the district, reducing the gap between town centres.
Owner of Northern Tea House, Kevin Chatham, claims that Kirklees car park prices rival costs of Manchester and Leeds Parking. “We gave all of our staff a pound pay rise last year, and most of that goes on their parking”, he added that increased parking charges also effect footfall in the town centre, causing further issues for business owners.
One driver claims that the charges are already “extortionate”, and that it discourages visitors from coming to the town centre. The town centre is already noticing a steep decline in visitors, marked by increased vacant stores and units.
Another motorist reflected on the former prices that remained in place for 15 years, claiming that “it costs a fortune to park in the centre these days, it was £4 just a few years ago, and now it’s almost doubled. The increased financial burden was felt by those who work in the town centre, who went from paying £20 for a working week of parking, to £32.50 after the first increases were implemented.
Kirklees Council were asked for comment about this issue, however they are yet to reply.
Parking charges are one of the few ways that councils can raise funds, with Kirklees Council earning an additional £1,570,000 per year (Kirklees Council). The increased revenue from the new charges must be used to improve local services. This includes improvements for public transport, transport infrastructure, and environmental improvements across the district.
The increased parking charges aim to encourage people to pursue more environmentally friendly means of travel, with the council also offering a Green parking permit, available to more environmentally friendly vehicles. The Green One permit cost £150 for a fully electric vehicle and can be used every day in both council car parks and on street pay & display parking spaces.