District fee reversal fuels calls for change
Parking charges will end in Wetherby, Horsforth, Garforth, Rothwell and Guiseley on Monday, November 9, 2026. The fees began in October 2025, according to the Ilkley Gazette.
Conservative group leader Alan Lamb welcomed the reversal, saying the charges "should never have been introduced in the first place". He now wants the same outcome at parks, including Otley Chevin and Roundhay Park.
"We have forced this change as a result of the council being in no overall control," Lamb said. Labour holds 48 of the council's 99 seats.
James Gibson, Labour's executive member for environment, said the district parking decision followed a consultation. "District centres play a vital role in supporting local businesses, providing services and bringing communities together," he said.
BBC News reported that the district fees brought in more than £330,000 a year, but a council report found more non-compliance than expected. The consultation also found that drivers were using surrounding streets to avoid paying.
Businesses welcomed the decision, according to BBC News. Penelope, who works at the Westrow hair salon in Wetherby, said parking for a full working day had cost staff about £15 a week.
Park visitors weigh the cost
The park charges began in February 2025 at Roundhay Park, Golden Acre Park, Otley Chevin, Temple Newsam and Middleton Park. A two-hour stay currently costs £1.20.
John England, who walks his dog at Roundhay and Golden Acre several times a week, opposed the proposal during consultation. A 2024 survey found that 80% of respondents were against it.
"I don't see any reason why people should have to pay to enjoy a walk, regular exercise and that sort of thing," England said. He regards the fee as another expense for people seeking an otherwise free outing and believes nearby street parking has "increased significantly" since its introduction.
Nestor and Jacqueline drive from Seacroft for long walks at Roundhay but now leave their car farther away to avoid paying. They say concerns about parking costs sometimes lead them to cut visits short, and they want free parking restored so they can spend longer in the park.
Other visitors accept the charge. Jane Bairstow, who grew up near Roundhay and visits two or three times a month, sometimes takes the bus and sometimes drives. She considers the fee small and would like some of the proceeds used to protect swans around the lake.
Revenue and park improvements
When it introduced the park fees, the council cited "unprecedented budget challenges" and warned that the parks would deteriorate without sustainable funding. The Yorkshire Evening Post reported that the charges were intended to help the council save more than £100 million in the 2025/26 financial year.
The five parks generated £550,000 in parking revenue during the first six months of charging, according to figures reported by the Yorkshire Evening Post. Released in September 2025 in response to a formal question from Conservative councilor Sam Firth, the figures included £218,000 paid at machines, £236,000 through phone apps and £96,000 from season tickets.
Roundhay accounted for £155,000 of that revenue, with 107,000 car park payments over the six-month period.
The council says parking income goes directly back into the parks, funding improvements to parking facilities and accessibility as well as measures to prevent unauthorized vehicle access. It told the BBC that the proceeds had paid for a full renovation of Golden Acre Park's car park and vehicle-access controls at Roundhay.
The council has also defended charging as an established practice elsewhere, saying that "many other councils across the country have similar practices in place".
No park fee review planned
The campaign against park fees predates the district parking reversal. In January 2026, a motion seeking to suspend the park charges was due to go before a full council meeting, BBC News reported.
The Yorkshire Post reported that the council agreed to review parking charges in Otley following an appeal by Liberal Democrat councilors. That review would not extend to Otley Chevin or the charges at Roundhay, Temple Newsam, Golden Acre and Middleton parks.
The council maintains that the district parking scheme is separate from park charging and says it currently has no plans to reverse the park fees. Further work is planned at Otley Chevin's Upper and Lower Shawfield car parks.
