BUSINESSES have been invited to sign up for a scheme to boost town trade after car parking charges were introduced at two sites in Baildon.

A 30p charge for the first hour of parking between 8am and 6pm, Monday to Saturday, was introduced by Bradford Council at Ian Clough Hall in Hall Cliffe and The Grove in Baildon town centre.

Now Baildon councillors Debbie Davies, Mike Pollard and Val Townend have discussed a split-ticket scheme with Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport.

The scheme would see the cost of people’s tickets at the town’s two car parks refunded by participating businesses if a customer shopped there.

Cllr Davies said people who used the car parks would be given double parking tickets which they could present to businesses.

More information of how the scheme would work will be presented at an event at Baildon Library on Tuesday, May 2, between noon and 1pm. Cllr Ross-Shaw and a Council officer will attend the meeting.

Cllr Davies opposed the plan in Baildon to remove the free first hour of parking at the two car parks.

A petition against the plans in the town collected more than 300 signatures.

She said: “This is very much just a suggestion at this time and its success or otherwise will depend on the number of local businesses wishing to participate. It’s early days.

“We are trying to get people to support local shops. We need to get businesses interested in this scheme.

“We do need a minimum number of businesses participating from the start to encourage people to continue to shop in Baildon, and hopefully attract new shoppers.”

Cllr Ross-Shaw said: “We’re happy to work with businesses and local councillors on different ways we can operate tickets in Baildon.

“I visited a number of businesses with local members before the charges came in and hope we can work together to find an agreeable solution.”

The Council’s changes were also introduced at city centre premium car parks in Bradford, Briggate and Commercial Street in Bingley, Bronte Village and Gas Street in Haworth, the area around the Arts Centre, Wesley Place and and Bridge Street in Keighley.

A report into the proposals said amendments to charges, the removal of free periods for parking and the introduction of charges was expected to produce an extra £57,500 in income for the Council.

The Council’s executive rubber-stamped the plans earlier this year, after a public consultation.

They were agreed as part of the authority’s full budget in February 2016.

Businesses interested in signing up for the Baildon scheme can email debbie.davies@bradford.gov.uk.