New parking charges come into force at parks

Car parking charges at five public parks in Leeds have come into force.

The council said the charges would help fund necessary maintenance and better facilities.

The authority said the decision to introduce a fee was due to the need to fund investment in the parks at the same time as the council needed to find £100m in savings.

Answering criticism of the decision, the council pointed out the charges being introduced were relatively low.

You will have to pay a fee to park at:-

• Golden Acre Park
• Otley Chevin
• Roundhay Park (including Mansion Lane)
• Temple Newsam
• Middleton Park (where charges will apply at the Urban Bike Park only).

The charges will be:-

• £1 for up to two hours
• £2.50 for half a day
• £4 for a full day
• Season ticket: £10 per month or £80 per annum
• Parking will remain free for blue badge holders
• The charges will apply seven days a week between 08:00 and 20:00.

The proposal to introduce parking charges at the sites, which were previously free, was met with concern.

Opposition councillors raised fears motorists would use side streets near the parks to avoid fees and expressed concerns people would lose out on the health benefits of parks if they were unable to afford the fees.

Catriona Moore, who runs Art Roundhay Park, told the BBC last year the gallery depended on footfall and might not survive if parking fees resulted in less people using the park.

At the end of January she announced in a post on the Friends of Roundhay Park Facebook page they would be closing the gallery in the Mansion at the end of February.

"With the implementation of car parking charges next month, 2025 will be challenging and it's one challenge too far.

"So, we're retiring, moving on. From 28th February we will no longer be at Art Roundhay Park," she wrote.

Mohammed Rafique, executive member for climate, energy, environment and green space, said the council looked after 4,000 hectares of parks and green spaces.

"Sadly, without a sustainable funding stream, the much-loved spaces will deteriorate, resulting in health and safety risks.

"This is why we have taken the decision to introduce parking charges at these five parks in Leeds, starting 10 February."

He said the charges were nominal and the same or less than a return bus ticket to the parks.

"I'd also like to reiterate that the funding required to introduce these charges, such as new ticket machines, will all be paid for by the charges themselves."

He said that by maintaining the parks and green spaces, the council was providing spaces for communities in the city to "be active and to play and helping to improve mental and physical health".

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.