A decision by Bradford Council to extend pay-and-display parking in the city centre has been called in for review amid concerns that new meters had been bought months ago while consultation was going on.

Highways bosses at the authority have denied that buying 50 machines last year at a cost of £110,000 signalled the decision had in fact already been made.

Councillor David Green, the Council’s executive member with responsibility for highways, told the Telegraph & Argus that the meters were bought in bulk due to a discount.

He said: “My understanding is that we bought this equipment in bulk because it was cheaper to buy it in bulk and also because they would be needed regardless of the outcome of the parking review. They would be needed to replace existing older meters, so either way it was better to buy them and receive the discount.

“It makes financial sense to ensure that we get the best price for equipment.”

He added that at the time they were bought the parking review was still well underway so it would not have been known how many meters could possibly be needed, if any.

The machines were ordered in July and received in October. The Council already has about 150 meters in operation at the moment and the vast majority of them are of an older style and will need replacing over time.

Val Summerscales, at the Chamber of Trade, has been critical of the move, fearing that more on-street parking charges will mean fewer people coming into the centre of Bradford to use the shops there.

She said: “I still believe the parking review has been a complete sham. I know the machines will never be wasted because they can replace the older ones. But the money they spent was well before the decision was actually made.”

The decision to extend the number of pay-and-display bays in the city centre was taken by leading councillors just over a week ago. New parking spaces would be created by ending waiting restrictions and replacing them with time-limited parking. In addition, the maximum stay allowed within pay-and-display spaces will now be increased from one hour to two hours.

But that decision will now be reviewed at the next meeting of the Council’s environment and waste management overview and scrutiny committee on Tuesday at 5.30pm in City Hall.

The reasons for the call-in relate to the justification for introducing additional on-street parking and the suggestion that the Council had already purchased equipment ahead of the decision and that it ignored overwhelming opposition and widespread concern about the proposals.

Members of the committee have the option to release the decision, refer all or part of it back to the executive, or to refer the decision to a meeting of full council.