Kirklees Council has set a date for the planned 60% increase in car parking charges in Huddersfield, Holmfirth and Dewsbury.

The council first said the charges would be introduced on February 19. However, the date was put back to April 1, even though that was a Bank Holiday when parking in council car parks is free.

Councillors rubber-stamped the increase in charges at a meeting at the end of March and the council has now confirmed when the new charges will go live – Monday April 29.

Car parking charges haven’t gone up since 2009 and the 60% rise is the equivalent of the rate of inflation, back-dated 15 years. The new charges can be found HERE.

In future, charges will be reviewed every year with any increase decided by a senior council officer, not councillors.

In a statement David Shepherd, strategic director for growth and regeneration at Kirklees Council, said: “Now that the uplift in fees has been approved, the council has to publicise the changes for 21 days before our parking team can begin the operational work required to roll out the new tariffs across the district.

“There will be updates to the signage, the parking machines and the RingGo app and the new tariffs will go live from April 29.

“This has taken slightly longer than initially set out as we have not left the decision to officers but opted to undertake a more robust and transparent approach to the consultation process taking all feedback on board before the decision was made by elected members.”

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