Changes to the parking regulations in force in Leeds are due to be made later this month, forcing people to pay to leave their cars in the city in the evening and on Sundays.

There is currently no charge to park at these times, but the city council has decided to introduce a tariff from 18:00 GMT on weekdays and all day on Sundays as it attempts to save almost £55 million in its budget for 2013-14.

Drivers will be asked to cough up a flat rate of £2 to park after 18:00 GMT, while four hours on a Sunday will cost £1 and any more will be charged at £4.

A spokesman for the council told the BBC: "While we acknowledge that charging for something that was previously free isn't going to be popular, we must find a delicate balance between managing the increasing demand for parking alongside the need to keep traffic and the economy moving and encouraging people to make the most of public transport."

With new rules in place from November 18th, the local authority might be wise to hire more parking attendants and enforcement officers to ensure those who flout the regulations are punished.

The council representative added that the charges due to come into effect are still "considerably cheaper" than many private car park operators demand, with these facilities having been charging for weeknight and Sunday parking for some time.

However, some people are not happy with the development, including local government and communities minister Brandon Lewis. He said asking for money to park at a time when bosses should be aiming to encourage people to go out in the evening is "crazy".

Some businesses have also suggested they are far from impressed with the scheme, as they believe shoppers could choose to go to out-of-town retail centres on Sundays rather than pay to park in the centre of Leeds.

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