Solar-charged parking machines will be used when controversial charges start in 13 city centre streets next month.

Bradford Council will charge for 150 spaces, which were previously free, in about six weeks time.

And the authority will lead West Yorkshire with the county's first solar-powered pay and display machines, it was revealed today.

The Council will be one of just a handful of local authorities across the country to use battery-operated machines which will be charged up by daylight and will use no electricity.

The charges are being slapped on despite objections from many city centre traders, who claim it will decimate their businesses. A survey carried out by the Telegraph & Argus and Chamber of Trade showed 174 people were against the scheme while just eight were in favour.

But the Council says it will ease congestion where motorists circle the streets looking for free short-time spaces which are being swallowed up by drivers using them well over the time allowed. The scheme will be reviewed in six months time, when a report will go to the Council's transportation, planning and design committee.

Only a handful of other authorities followed the London Borough of Ealing's lead in using solar-powered ticket machines.

The system means huge disruption will be avoided in the city centre because it will not be necessary to dig up roads for electricity installations.

The tender for the 19 machines - which will be delivered to the council this week - has been won by Cirencester-based Metric Group Limited. The Council is paying £3,200 each for the machines.

Motorists will have to use coins in the machines when they are first installed. But the authority will later begin a Smart Card system.

The scheme will cost £100,000 to set up and £75,000 a year to run. Motorists in the newly designated areas will have to pay 30p for half an hour and 60p an hour between 10am and 4.30pm for the spaces. The Council says it will bring in £150,000 a year in extra cash which can be ploughed back into city centre improvements.

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