ALMOST 1,000 people have signed a petition calling for free car parking to continue in Cleckheaton after plans to review parking charges across the district to raise £250,000 were announced.

Kirklees Council’s recently-agreed budget includes a review of parking tariffs across the district – the first in a decade.

But it has led to fears from Liberal Democrats in Cleckheaton that any changes will lead to the introduction of new charges at the town’s council-run car parks, which are currently free to use.

Councillor John Lawson is urging people to sign a petition to stop parking charges in Cleckheaton amid concerns that parking charges will hit the town and its businesses hard.

The move comes as Bradford Council looks to introduce new parking charges on evenings and Sundays at certain car parks it runs. Cllr Lawson (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton), said of the situation in neighbouring Kirklees: “I was shocked and then angry when I saw the Labour plan.

“Kirklees Council has taken much away from our town: the sports centre, town hall services, and constant attempts to close our library.

“Now they want to attack our town further by ending free parking.”

He added that the council car parks in Cleckheaton had been free for as long as he could remember and that they were limited to a stay of two hours.

“It’s not like the free car parks are abused by people commuting as you can’t stay all day.

“Any changes will mean a big impact on the town. If we have free car parking, it’s obviously a great draw for the businesses of Cleckheaton.”

He added that within 48 hours of launching their campaign, almost 1,000 people had signed the petition, which showed the strength of feeling. “The response we’ve had on social media has been remarkable,” he added.

They hope to reach 3,000 signatures which will trigger a debate on the issue at Full Council.

Councillor Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) added that during the budget debate it had been made clear that the ruling Labour group were not talking about extra charges in Huddersfield and Dewsbury. “It inevitably means they will need to put new parking charges in elsewhere, such as smaller town centres like Cleckheaton,” she said.

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The budget document details that the “aim is to encourage town centre parking for shoppers rather than commuters” and that charges such as short and long stay car parking, on-street parking, shoppers’ car parks and season tickets will be among the scope of the review. Current parking tariffs have been in place since 2007.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said: “No decision has been made on changes to parking operations.  Officers will be working on a report for submission to cabinet later this year.”