From: Mick Bradley, Otley town councillor Green Danefield

I write in response to the lead article in this week's paper. As a Danefield town councillor, I believe it is a bad idea for Leeds to start charging for parking in the Chevin car parks or at Wharfemeadows. This can only be seen as a deterrence to people exercising and walking their dogs which contribute to both physical and mental health and well-being. The lack of any bus service to the Chevin and steep gradient to walk up from Otley town centre leaves little alternative to driving for many people.

Charging for the car parks will likely result in more parking on East Chevin Road already a safety issue on busy summer weekends. There are also practical issues such as the poor state of the car parks where money would need to be spent to level up the pot holed surfaces prior to charging. Residents have raised concerns about only card payment which for some isn’t as simple as it appears.

I completely understand and sympathise that Leeds Parks are very short of funding but this way of generating income looks set to backfire with the level of public opposition. I urge Leeds City Council to withdraw the proposal.