LONG suffering residents have given a cautious welcome to plans to increase car parking at Horsforth Railway Station.

The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (WYPTA) is to spend £80,000 on increasing the number of places at the busy railway station from 59 to around 89.

The additional spaces, which should be available by the end of the year, will go on land behind the Harrogate bound platform which was previously used as two railway sidings.

But residents of Haigh Wood Road, Haigh Wood Green and Wood Hill are concerned that commuters and other railway users will still park outside their homes.

Residents spokesman, Joan Croft, of Haigh Wood Road, said the problem with the site was that it was a small walk from the station.

"Commuters will have to park their cars and then walk to the station along an unmade up road and on dark nights, they just won't do it. It seems wonderful in theory, but we'll have to see whether it works in practice," she said.

Mrs Croft collected around 60 names last year for a petition calling for action to be taken at the railway station after her son was blocked from getting into her driveway because of parked cars.

She added the additional parking was a step in the right direction, but that residents would continue to fight for residents parking permits.

"We are still pressing for residents parking permits because people will still park in the road," said Mrs Croft.

Councillor Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough), a member of the WYPTA rail working group, said the increase of parking spaces would be welcomed by both residents and commuters.

"These spaces are almost always full during the week before 8.30am and not only does this cause a problems for the people wanting to park and catch a train but it is also most annoying for local residents and traders inconvenienced by by on-street parking.

Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) added it was a welcome step forward for Horsforth residents.

He said: "It is long overdue. Along with my colleagues Roger Harris and Brian Cleasby, I've been calling for better parking around Horsforth Station for many years. The residents permit parking on the Horsforth side has alleviated the problems caused in one area but I know there are substantial problems on the Cookridge and Tinshill side. The new parking should encourage more people to use the train, and reduce overcrowding on neighbouring streets."

A Metro spokeswoman said the scheme would be paid for out of the WYPTA's share of the Transport Policies and Programme 1999/2000 settlement.

Work will start when the necessary legal procedures had been finalised possibly during the summer and should be finished by the end of the year.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.