Parking charges to be introduced at Ilkley Lido car park

Parking charges will go live at the Denton Road Car Park in Ilkley, most commonly known as the Ilkley Pool and Lido car park, from November 1.

From this date motorists will be charged £1 to park for one hour, and £4 to park longer than four hours.

People who are having swimming lessons with Bradford Aquatics, or are ClubActive members will not have to pay – they will be given a parking permit which covers the timescale of their lessons or membership.

One councillor has acknowledged that introducing parking charges is an “emotive issue” but claims the charging is needed due to Bradford Council’s perilous financial situation.

During Summer months, Ilkley’s traditional Lido attracts thousands of users to the town.

A statement by Bradford Council today said: “Car parking charges will be introduced at Denton Road Car Park (also known as Ilkley Pool and Lido Car Park) on November 1 2024. The charges will cover Monday to Sunday, 8am to 6pm.

Ilkley Lido

“People who are having swimming lessons with Bradford Aquatics or are a ClubActive member have been contacted directly.

“Day visitors to Ilkley Lido will be expected to pay to park their vehicle.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: "We understand parking charges are always an emotive issue but in the current financial climate we’ve had to make a number of tough choices to generate revenue in a sustainable and manageable manner.

“Revenue from parking charges goes towards maintaining and improving infrastructure, enforcing regulations and investing in sustainable transport initiatives.

"We try to take a consistent and fair approach across the district and this year have decided to introduce charges at Denton Road Car Park.“ Parking charges will be   1 hour – £1 2 hour - £2 3 hour – £3 4 hour plus – £4.

The announcement has met with a mixed reaction among Telegraph & Argus readers.

Several readers hit out at the Council, with oen saying: "They're killing everything with their moronic blind greed. As if all this mess they've got themselves into is the car drivers', council tax payers' and businesses' fault, rather than their own colossal ineptitude and mismanagement."

But others defended the local authority, with one reader saying: "Most councils are now charging for parking where they can. Somehow they have to find ways to make up the shortfall after the last Conservative government slashed their funding. And let's face it, compared to Leeds and York, a pound an hour looks like a bit of a bargain."