Question mark hangs over reinstating Dewsbury car parking charges

The council announced over the festive period that charges would resume, sparking calls for a rethink even before Monday’s national lockdown decision.

Dewsbury Tory MP Mark Eastwood and Dewsbury Chamber of Trade both called on council leader Shabir Pandor to change his mind.

The Reporter Series asked Coun Pandor if his decision was being reviewed in the light of lockdown but there was no response before the paper went to press.

Mr Eastwood said free parking had been a “huge help” for many local businesses and many people would see the decision to bring back charges as a “real kick in the teeth.”

Chamber secretary Bruce Bird also urged the council to reconsider.

He said the Cliffe Street car park could remain free and added: “The council has already zoned Cliffe Street for residential development in the Local Plan so has already decided it does not need the revenue from that source.

“We would prefer the council to consider the longer term development of Dewsbury over their own budget for the coming year.”

Dewsbury East councillor Aleks Lukic described the decision to reinstate parking charges as a “false economy” that would only “hold back trade in Dewsbury even further.”