City leaders will be asked to suspend parking charges at beauty spots, including the Urban Bike Park at Middleton when councillors debate the issue.
The “negative impact” of charges at parks including Roundhay and Golden Acre will be discussed at a Leeds City Council meeting. Alan Lamb, leader of the city’s Conservative group, has tabled a motion against the charges, introduced in February last year.
The council has said the charges would fund better facilities at the parks and help address a multi-million pound budget gap.
The motion said: “This council regrets the administration’s decision to introduce car park charges in parks and district centres and the hugely negative impact this is having on local communities.”
Coun Lamb, who represents Wetherby, said not enough cash was being raised to justify introducing the charges. The motion said the number of visitors to the parks had reduced since the charges were brought in and people were choosing to park on nearby streets.
It said: “Council also notes that revenue collected from some car parks has been minimal, undermining the financial case for charging as a way of addressing the council’s budget position.”
Charges were brought in at parks and other locations including Otley Chevin, Marsh Street in Rothwell, Netherfield Road in Guiseley and Barley Hill Lane in Garforth. Fink Hill in Horsforth, Wilderness and Station Gardens in Wetherby, Middleton Park Bike Hub and Temple Newsam were also affected.
The Labour-controlled council will debate Coun Lamb’s motion at a meeting at Leeds Civic Hall on Wednesday (14 January 2026).
Drivers can pay £4 per day at the parks or buy an annual season ticket for £80, around £1.50 a week. Blue badge holders are exempt from the charges.
This post was written by Dom Mort, Local Democracy Reporter
Photo: Jeremy Morton
While you’re here, can we ask a favour?
South Leeds Life is published by a not-for-profit social enterprise. We keep our costs as low as possible but we’ve been hit by increases in the print costs for our monthly newspaper which have doubled in the last two years.
Could you help support local community news by making a one off donation, or even better taking out a supporters subscription?
Donate here, or sign up for a subscription at bit.ly/SLLsubscribe
