
Cheaper city centre parking is on the way at Bradford Council’s Westgate car park, next to the Oastler shopping centre.
Following the decision by Morrisons to close their supermarket on Westgate in April this year, Bradford Council carried out a survey to find out how the closure has affected the use of the multi-storey car park.
The idea was to identify the typical length of stay, turnover of spaces and occupancy of each floor of the car park.
A structural survey of the building also revealed that major renovation work was necessary for the upper two stories.
After considering the results, officers decided to close the top two floors of the car park and amend the charges for the remaining floor.
They believe there is enough short-stay capacity on the first floor to accommodate users with alternative long stay parking nearby.
Following a consultation period, the charge for parking will be reduced from 60p an hour to only 50p an hour and after 3pm parking is free.
Although the Council would like to introduce the new reduced charges immediately, legal rules mean that there will have to be a public consultation on the changes and a Traffic Regulation Order.
If there are no objections to the Traffic Regulation Order the new charges could be introduced in time for Christmas shopping.
Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said, "We cannot justify the expensive refurbishment work to the upper floors while we are still reviewing the situation in light of Morrison's decision to close.”
“We are pleased to be able to soon offer cheaper car parking and free car parking after 3pm which will make parking at the top of town more attractive to shoppers.”