Traders could soon have every right to park in Haworth's historic Main Street.

at next month's Bradford council highways committee meeting Worth Valley councillor Mike Young will ask for the order preventing shopkeepers parking in the street's homeowners' spaces to be removed. He will request that people with businesses either be given special parking permits or be allowed to park on Main Street.

The move stems from a recent council demand for the return of several parking permits issued by mistake to people with lock-up shops. More than 80 permits have been handed out for just 27 spaces. Traders were also told that their vehicles could be towed away if they continued to park in the householders' bays.

Parking spaces are at a premium in the area and there has been much debate between residents and traders over who should park where.

Cllr Young hopes this new order will replace the traffic regulation order that has been in force since 1977. He says: "Some people think that shopkeepers should not be allowed to park on the street and that it should be for residents only. But I hope that this new order will help resolve what is quite a delicate situation.

"The 1977 order is now out of date. There are never going to be enough parking spaces so it will be a matter of give and take. The situation needs looking at after more than 20 years of being in force because things are very different now.

"Parking will not be a problem in the evenings if this order goes through because the shops will be closed. But it's a difficult situation with no right or wrong answer."

Stephen Ferguson, who has an antiques and collectables business, has suggested that the street become a traffic-free zone. He has called the present system an 'injustice' because of the fact that Main Street householders are given ample parking spaces while businesses are allocated none.

But some nearby homeowners are fearful of the possible withdrawal of all permits.

Villagers will be allowed to object to the draft order by making representations to the council.

The highways committee will meet on Wednesday, February 17.

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