AN on-street parking charge is returning to Brighouse, but a review of parking in the town has also been approved.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet agreed a charge of 20p for a maximum of one hour’s stay, should be imposed on some on-street parking bays in Brighouse town centre.

Cabinet member for Public Services and Communities, Councillor Susan Press (Lab, Todmorden), outlined changes made over the last year and recommended colleagues agree to the change.

In the past these bays – on Commercial Street, King Street, Bradford Road, Bethel Street, Briggate, Market Street, Gooder Street and Park Street- were limited to free parking for one hour with a limit of one hour’s stay at any one time.

Last July changes were made in which parking there was free for the first half hour, with the second half hour costing 20p.

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Business complained this was affecting trade and last November, in order to give the town a shopping boost in the run up to Christmas, they were removed.

Removal of the charges meant restrictions were removed too, with the result being some motorists were parking in the bays all day for free, stopping the flow of shopping traffic and also affecting trade, she said.

“It had led to people parking all day in the bays for free, which means there are fewer places for shoppers,” she added.

The free half hour then 20p half hour charge in operation from July to November last year had also caused businesses problems with people leaving the town centre quickly after using up their free half hour, she said.

“Therefore the recommendation is 20p for one hour, which is certainly an incredibly modest payment and will allow effective enforcement to take place to make sure turnover of spaces,” said Coun Press.

“But we also recommend the Town Board be supported in a wider review of parking to ensure Brighouse remains a vibrant town centre.”

Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) agreed and said this flat rate was a reasonable compromise and was very much cheaper than rates in Hebden Bridge or Halifax, for example.

He added: “I think in all our towns it’s not a problem of people paying to park but finding parking.”