No replacement for vandalised parking meters

Parking meters damaged after Leeds City Council introduced payments for five sites will not be replaced.

Charges were introduced at the beauty spot car parks on 10 February to try and raise more revenue for the authority.

People parking at Golden Acre Park, Otley Chevin, Roundhay Park, Temple Newsam and Middleton Park now have to pay £4 for the day or £80 for a year's season ticket.

Meters at Otley Chevin were damaged just hours before charges came in. The council will not replace the devices, instead saying people would need to pay by app via their phones.

Local Liberal Democrat councillors have expressed concern that this includes a 20p fee and excludes people who wish to use cash.

A statement posted on social media by Otley councillors Colin Campbell, Ryk Downes and Sandy Lay read: "Whilst we have always been clear that we didn't support the introduction of parking charges at Chevin car parks, we absolutely condemn the recent vandalism to the ticket machines and signage.

"This mindless damage has now left no working machines at Surprise View, East Chevin Quarry, Lower Shawfield, or Upper Shawfield car parks."

The councillors expressed disappointment that the machines would not replaced, and urged Leeds City Council to rethink its decision.

"We understand the financial pressures but are very disappointed that genuine users are now inconvenienced further," the statement read.

A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said they understood some people would be unhappy but "vandalising the machines is unacceptable".

"The income raised from the parking charges is used to directly support our parks and vandalism of the payment machines will directly impact the visitor experience."

The spokesperson added that the damage meant using the PayByPhone app was "currently the only option" unless visitors were purchasing a season ticket, with 80% of visitors using the app at locations where meters were functional.

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.