By John Baron
Town councillors have urged Leeds City Council to ditch controversial parking charges at Horsforth’s Fink Hill car park, which they say is displacing parking into surrounding streets and affecting trade.
Horsforth Town Council has formally submitted its response to Leeds City Council’s consultation on parking charges at Fink Hill.
The charges, which were introduced in October 2025 at Fink Hill and five other locations in Leeds, have been the subject of much discussion.
A statement issued by the town council on social media said: “Whilst recognising the significant financial pressures facing Leeds City Council and the need to identify alternative sources of income, the Town Council believes that, in the case of Fink Hill, the negative impacts of the parking charges outweigh the benefits.”
Town Council concerns include:
- Parking has been displaced onto surrounding roads, increasing congestion on Fink Hill and creating visibility and road safety concerns on Hall Lane.
- Local businesses have reported concerns that footfall has reduced since the introduction of the charges, potentially affecting the vitality of Horsforth town centre.
- The current payment arrangements are not sufficiently accessible for everyone, particularly those who do not have access to digital payment methods or bank accounts.
- Greater transparency is needed regarding the scheme’s finances.
The statement concluded: “Following consideration of these issues, Horsforth Town Council has urged Leeds City Council to remove the parking charges at Fink Hill and has requested further information to enable a full assessment of the effectiveness and value for money of the scheme.”
The public consultation can be completed here and paper copies are available from Horsforth Library. The survey will close tomorrow (Friday, September 18).Â
The charges were introduced to raise funds for cash-strapped Leeds City Council.
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