From the point of view of locals and visitors to any city, one thing you want is access to a good car park – Leeds has plenty to choose from, but with high prices and now free parking in Leeds set to come to an end in mid-November, what reasonable options are left?
Free parking in Leeds has been part of the council’s culture for many years, offering a limited yet appreciated chance to avoid the high charges associated with many of the multi-storey, city centre car parks. Leeds has its fair share of visitors owing to its wide appeal for sight-seekers, university students and great food and shopping, not to mention local residents who may need to run an errand in town. The free parking Leeds currently has in action means that evenings and Sundays are a great time to head into the city for some shopping or a bite to eat with the family, but with new charges being introduced, businesses are concerned that this will drive people towards out of town shopping centres instead.
Great value car park Leeds Trafalgar Street
So what charges are going to replace the free parking in Leeds?
As of November 18th 2013, a flat rate of £2 will be charged for on-street spaces and council-run car parks every evening of the week from 18:00 to 22:00 GMT. Sunday parking will cost £1 for up to 4 hours, increasing to £4 for more than 4 hours. This is bad news for people who want to drive into town rather than taking public transport – especially when there are so few alternatives to the previous free parking rules.
One great value car park Leeds offers which could provide a solution is Trafalgar Street car park just a few minutes’ walk from the Leeds First Direct Arena, the West Yorkshire Playhouse and the main shopping precincts. With prices as low as just £2 for a full day over the weekends, and a £4 all-day flat rate on weekdays, this is one car park in Leeds that you can afford to use – beating the new council charges quite a considerable amount, especially if you’re planning of making the most of a weekend visit.
Trafalgar Street car park sits just off North Lane, where New Briggate and Vicar Lane meet; it offers a secure place to park your car, much safer than the street and offering your best option when the free parking in Leeds comes to an end.