Council bosses are to speak to the owner of a Saltaire business to see if he will consider giving up a car park for customers of village shops to use.

The suggestion was made at a Shipley Area Committee meeting last night when councillors considered a 224-name petition from traders who say proposed stops to parking on Hirst Lane and parts of Clarence Road will damage their businesses.

The changes are part of the wider Saltaire Improvement Scheme to improve road safety in the area.

Lead petitioner Stuart Hargreaves, of 211 Deli in Bingley Road, suggested Bradford Council seeks to buy one of the car parks from The Old Tramshed further along the street and make it available for parents of nearby schools and customers to use.

He said he appreciated it would add to the cost of the scheme.

“The alternative is the very real possibility of a number of businesses being forced to close and potentially 50-plus staff losing their jobs,” Mr Hargreaves said.

Council officer Richard Bruce admitted Council surveys may have over-estimated the amount of alternative parking available, but said there was still enough capacity “in the general area”.

He said the restrictions were considered fundamental.

Committee members also heard from Saltaire resident Danielle Long, who welcomed the overall scheme, as did Mr Hargreaves, but was concerned that people would park on, and cut through, side streets such as Dove Street and George Street.

Councillors decided to agree traffic orders to introduce no right turns from Bingley Road into Saltaire Road and no left turns from Saltaire Road to Bingley Road, but have asked the Council to see if fewer parking spaces could be lost on Clarence Road and to approach the owner of The Old Tramshed.

Councillors said they had struggled with the issues raised.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) said the main issue was the effect on businesses, but added: “We’ve been working on this a long, long time. We’ve had meeting, after presentation, after discussion and delay after delay. It’s got to happen.”

Councillor Simon Cooke (Con, Bingley Rural) was frustrated by the project, which he said should be making life easier for people.

He said: “We’re simply not delivering what we thought we were delivering with the scheme.”