Congestion Car Park Crackdown

PLANS to reduce congestion by regulating the spread of unregulated city centre car parks will be debated by councillors this week.

We listened to the concerns of commuters, businesses and the car park operators and understand that these car parks provide valuable commuter car parking spaces. 

At a meeting of Leeds City Council’s Executive Board on Wednesday officers will recommend, after wide spread consultation, that a number of previously unauthorised parking spaces are made legitimate as long as improvements are made to their appearance and security. 

The overall number of spaces at these car parks will be limited to 3200 to make sure that commuting by car does not increase and add to congestion on roads into the city centre. 

The recommendation follows council proposals last year to take enforcement action against unauthorised car parks in the city centre, containing around 1,900 parking spaces. But this new recommendation recognised that an immediate clamp down would penalise commuters who have not had the benefit of previously-anticipated public transport improvements.  

“We listened to the concerns of commuters, businesses and the car park operators and understand that these car parks provide valuable commuter car parking spaces, particularly around the south side of the city centre, and that this can help support local businesses." says Councillor Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council executive member responsible for city development. 

 “It is also the case that major public transport schemes which were anticipated – such as Supertram and the park and ride proposals– have not yet materialised.  

“However, the council has a duty to tackle the congestion caused by cars coming into the city centre to park.  This is to reduce pollution in the city and meet targets to reduce carbon emissions.  

“The 3,200 cap on spaces will help control the number of cars coming into the city, encourage more people to use the city’s existing public transport and improve the appearance, security and appearance of the city’s car parks.