Should parking charges at Leeds parks be scrapped?

Parking charges are set to be scrapped in towns and suburbs around Leeds after public backlash. Now people opposed to equally unpopular charges introduced at the city's parks are calling for those fees to be removed as well.

"I don't see any reason why people should have to pay to enjoy a walk, regular exercise and that sort of thing," says John England.

Like many others, England walks his dog at Roundhay Park and Golden Acre Park several times a week

Parking charges were introduced at both locations - along with Otley Chevin, Temple Newsam and Middleton Park - in February 2025 - with two hours parking currently costing £1.20.

At the time, Leeds City Council said "unprecedented budget challenges" were behind the decision and that "without a sustainable funding stream, the much-loved spaces will deteriorate".

England says he objected to the charges during the consultation phase.

He was not alone - according to a survey carried out in 2024, 80% of the people questioned were opposed to the idea.

"I felt it would act against people using the park for leisure activities," says England.

"Introducing charges like that, even at the fairly modest level that they came in at, is just another cost pressure on a day out where people can enjoy something that doesn't cost anything."

He also believes parking on the street has "increased significantly" since the change.

Earlier this week, the council announced plans to scrap charges it introduced a year ago at six car parks in Wetherby, Horsforth, Garforth, Rothwell and Guiseley from 9 November.

James Gibson, Labour's executive member for environment said the decision was taken following a consultation, adding: "District centres play a vital role in supporting local businesses, providing services and bringing communities together."

The move has "delighted" opposition councillors, such as Conservative group leader Alan Lamb, who believes "they should never have been introduced in the first place".

But Lamb wants the council to go further.

"We will continue working to see a similar outcome for our parks, such as Otley Chevin and Roundhay Park," he said.

"We have forced this change as a result of the council being in no overall control

"People should be in no doubt, this wouldn't be happening if Labour had a majority."

Currently Labour hold 48 of the 99 seats on the council, two short of the number needed for a majority.

However, not everyone is so sure.

Jane Bairstow grew up near Roundhay Park and now visits two or three times a month.

On her way to meet a friend, she says: "Sometimes I catch the bus and sometimes I drive, and I don't mind paying the charge.

"I mean it's pence really, and it's a beautiful park to come round."

She says she would like to see some of the money raised through parking charges to be put towards looking after the park's swans.

"There's some [dangerous] bits for the swans and I think they could maybe use that money to sort of protect them around the lake.

"I think that would be a great idea if they did that."

Leeds City Council says the money raised from paying to park is a "crucial and sustainable source of income" which it uses to maintain the "high-quality parks and green spaces".

A spokesperson said: "The income raised is directly reinvested into our parks, going towards car park and accessibility improvements, and measures to prevent unauthorised vehicle access."

The council told the BBC that, so far, the money has been used to fully renovate the car park at Golden Acre Park and to bring in measures to prevent vehicle access at Roundhay Park.

Future upgrades are planned to the Upper and Lower Shawfield car parks at Otley Chevin.

But for people like Nestor and Jacqueline, who regularly go for long walks at Roundhay, the charges are off-putting.

The couple drive from their home in Seacroft but, because of the charges, they now park further away to avoid them.

"When we come, we would like to spend a lot of time in the park and sometimes we [leave] very quickly because of the parking," they said

"We are afraid of how much you should pay at the end of the parking," Nestor adds.

He said he would like to see parking at Roundhay Park be free again so that they can "spend more time in the park" itself.

Leeds City Council points out the charges which are being removed in Wetherby, Horsforth, Garforth, Rothwell and Guiseley are "separate" to the ones at the city's park.

As for the parks, the council said there are currently no plans to reverse the charges.

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