DISABLED drivers are being put off from using Ilkley Library because able-bodied drivers are using their parking spaces.

Many disabled drivers are having to park at a distance to borrow a book or return a CD - as selfish drivers are parking in the clearly-marked bays.

Others are being deterred from using the library all together as they cannot make the extra distance.

Cynthia Watson, chairman of Ilkley Access Group, who is not disabled herself, said: "It's very selfish. Sometimes their mobility is very poor. They have to get to the library, find a parking space and then go to the information centre to use the lift, so it is all just another barrier.

"I have worked in rehabilitation all my life and we have fought so hard and this hurts me so much."

Mrs Watson, an occupational therapist, said a further problem was being caused by disabled out of town visitors who were using the bays for all day parking.

She said: "When they have activities, such as the art show, people have been parking there all day. All right they are disabled but they should not park there from 9am until the show closes.

"It is so unfair. There should be some time limit on them."

Sheila Gardiner, 64, a member of the access group, who uses a wheelchair, said she had often had to travel further afield to find a space when visiting the library.

She said: "A friend sometimes drives me and we plan our route so we are on the right side for us to use the disabled parking space outside the library.

"This is so rarely possible. Some people are entitled to park there as they have stickers but not all.

"We then have to go and find a space somewhere else but it means a much longer walk."

Mrs Gardiner, of Queens Hall Drive, said these were not the only spaces being abused by thoughtless drivers.

She said: "There are very few disabled parking spaces. There is one outside the post office, which consistently gets parked up. People say, 'I'm only staying two or three minutes', but that is not really the point.

"The only other space is outside the library but they are regularly used by other drivers."

Coun Joyce Galling, of Ilkley Parish Council, has taken up the disabled drivers' plight.

She said, at the parish council's December meeting: "It came to my notice, as a member of Ilkley Road Safety Committee, that the disabled parking spaces outside the library are being used, especially on Saturdays, by people without disabled stickers.

"The people who are genuinely disabled are having to find a place far away to use the library and those with very bad walking disabilities cannot use the library if they cannot park their car."

Coun Galling said she would approach Bradford Council to see if they could install further signs at the spot.

A spokeswoman for Bradford Council said: "We are looking into the problem of non-disabled drivers using the parking spaces outside the library in Ilkley.

"It is important that everyone has access to the library's resources, therefore the council asks people to be considerate to the needs of others.

"We have informed the police and traffic wardens and would anticipate that they will take the necessary means to enforce the restrictions."