Confirmed: Wakefield drivers to get two hours' free parking in council run car parks after April

Drivers in Wakefield will be entitled to two hours' worth of free parking in car parks run by the district council from April, it's been confirmed.
By David Spereall
Published 21st Jan 2021, 16:45 BST
Updated 28th Jan 2021, 12:20 BST
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A clarification has been written on this article, which can be found here

The idea, which was first coined in December, will be put in place once the council's offer of blanket free parking for motorists expires at the end of March.

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It is hoped the scheme, which will cost around £1.8m during the next financial year, will help support businesses and reinvigorate the high street once lockdown measures are eased.

The council said blanket free parking had caused issues with crowding shoppers out of the city centre, but that two hours' free would give businesses a boost.The council said blanket free parking had caused issues with crowding shoppers out of the city centre, but that two hours' free would give businesses a boost.
The council said blanket free parking had caused issues with crowding shoppers out of the city centre, but that two hours' free would give businesses a boost.

The council's leader, Denise Jeffery said the move would be a permanent fixture.

The authority scrapped all charges at all of its on and off-street car parks at the start of the Covid pandemic last March and then reintroduced the perk before Christmas.

Coun Jeffery said: "We've been lobbied for years by business about doing free parking, but it hasn't quite worked because people who were coming into the office or to work were parking early and the shoppers aren't getting in.

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"I think (shopping centres)The Ridings and Trinity Walk have perhaps suffered because everybody's parking in our car parks for free and so they're not getting as much income from parking.

The idea forms part of council leader Denise Jeffery's budget for the next financial year.The idea forms part of council leader Denise Jeffery's budget for the next financial year.
The idea forms part of council leader Denise Jeffery's budget for the next financial year.

"So we thought we needed to do something, but the best scheme would be free for two hours.

"It's not just in Wakefield city centre, it's right across the district. We want to make sure we improve all of our towns.

"I think two hours is just enough for people to get their hair done, get their shopping done and I think it will work for businesses."

The district's three country parks, Anglers, Newmillerdam and Pugneys - all of whom are run by the council - will also be included in the scheme.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Related topics:DriversWakefieldDenise JefferyRidings