A public consultation on controversial town centre parking charges is set to be launched after Leeds City Council approved a review of the scheme.
The review will examine the impact of parking fees introduced in October 2025 at several council-owned car parks in Wetherby, Horsforth, Rothwell, Garforth and Guiseley.
Residents, businesses and visitors will be invited to share their views on the charges, which can cost motorists up to £3.65 per day.
Council leaders said the fees were introduced to generate income and help fund the maintenance and operation of local car parks. However, concerns have been raised about their impact on town centre businesses, employment and visitor numbers.
The decision to proceed with the review was approved by Leeds City Council’s executive board at a meeting on Wednesday.
A council report said the consultation would form part of a wider assessment looking at both the financial performance of the car parks and how frequently they are being used.
Conservative group leader Alan Lamb, who represents Wetherby, criticised the charges and told councillors: “This was a mistake to start with.” He argued that some residents were finding it harder to take jobs in affected towns because of the additional parking costs.
Cllr Lamb said: “I can see that the car parks are now half full instead of full, as they were. I can see people parking on residential streets.”
He also called for parking charges in Otley to be included in the review but was told the town falls outside the scope of the consultation.
Labour cllr James Gibson, the council’s executive member for environment, defended the introduction of the fees. He said: “Let’s not forget why we had to introduce car park charges.
“It came off the back of 15 years of huge cuts to Leeds City Council.”
The review will cover charges at Wilderness and Station Gardens car parks in Wetherby, Fink Hill in Horsforth, Barleyhill Road in Garforth, Marsh Street in Rothwell and Netherfield Road in Guiseley.
