A major overhaul of on-street parking in Bradford city centre was agreed last night, despite objections from business leaders.

Bradford Chamber of Trade wanted to see one hour free parking in the city centre’s streets to bring it into line with other town centres in Bradford district.

Its members had been consulted as part of a wide-ranging review into the “proper management” of parking spaces, including adding extra pay and display bays and standardising waiting restrictions from Monday to Saturday, 8am to 6pm.

They supported the plans put forward by Council officers to increase the maximum stay for existing pay-and-display but said an hour’s free parking would boost trade in the town centre.

Councillors raised concerns over the plans at last night’s meeting of the environment and waste management overview and scrutiny committee at City Hall.

The committee voted in favour of the officers’ preferred option to introduce more on-street parking with a two-hour maximum stay and a change to waiting restrictions to provide consistency.

They also backed a decision to make the section between Upper Piccadilly and Duke Street one way.