SHIPLEY MP Philip Davies has called for an overhaul of car parking charges in the town – including one hour’s free parking for visitors.

He has urged Bradford Council to offer free parking at its car parks for the first hour, to give a boost to traders and encourage visitors.

Mr Davies, who has contacted the Council about the issue, said: “It’s really short-sighted for the local authority to charge people to park.

“It could have possible consequences of closing down shops, if people don’t use the car parks.

“I want to see free parking in town centres for a limited period of time. At least an hour for free.

“It seems to me that the local Council should be doing everything they possibly can to encourage people to shop locally.

“The Council has no real consistency to parking charges; different areas have different prices.

“They need to have a consistent parking charge across the district, that encourages, not discourages, people to shop in the area.”

Bradford Council said it charged 50p per hour for the first two hours at all its car parks in the town, except the one at Shipley Pool.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said: “Our charges are consistent on Council-owned car parks and it’s well established Bradford district has some of the cheapest parking charges in West Yorkshire, not to mention the free on-street short-stay parking we offer.

“If Philip Davies spent some more time in Shipley town centre he’d know that the town centre car park is nearly always full, so providing free parking would make no difference and just cost the Council even more money on top of the cuts his Government are already forcing on us.”

Mr Davies’ calls were made after a business owner in Shipley contacted him about car parking charges.

David Wilson, 40, joint partner of Millennium Hair Studio, in Windsor Road, said car parking in the town cost more than in surrounding areas.

He said the Shipley Pool car park charged £4 for two hours or more, while both the Atkinson Street car park and Saville Car Park charged £3.50 for two or more hours.

Mr Wilson said this made it more expensive than a number of places nearby, including Saltaire, Bradford and Bingley.

He said the Victoria Street car park in Bingley charged £1.50 for two hours and more.

His three members of staff who used the car parks were having to spend £910 each year.

Mr Wilson said: “We are wanting people to come into Shipley and, believe me, this does not help. “It has been like this for a long time. It should not be like this.

“It is a lot of money. Shipley’s prices are on a par with Skipton.

“We have noticed a massive difference in the amount of our clients who are complaining about the car park charges and car parking in Shipley.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “Car parking charges in Shipley are 50p per hour for the first two hours at all sites, with the exception of Shipley Pool, the same as Saltaire, Bingley and Keighley.

“There has not been a charge increase in most Shipley car parks for a number of years.

“Car parking charges at St Paul’s Road, Shipley, will be lowered in the new financial year and it will be brought into line with other sites.”