New car park needed to stop trade dying out

Fears have been raised that trade is plummeting because workers' cars are clogging up the town's parking spaces, Councillor Nigel Francis told a meeting of Otley Town Council.

He said: "There are 200 shops and businesses in Otley. The bulk of paid for shopping spaces is filled up by people working in the town.

"We have got to get an all-day car park away from the centre. Shoppers are not coming because parking is so poor.

"We can't compete with places like the White Rose Centre in terms of convenience. Otley cannot survive in the present climate unless we accommodate people."

And he suggested at the meeting that a 500 space car park on Station Road could solve the problem. And an added bonus would be that around £150 per day would be brought in to council coffers.

Coun Francis added: "From a business point of view you will release about 200 car parking spaces if all day parking is moved."

But residents on Station Road would strongly oppose the scheme, according to Councillor John Eveleigh.

He said: "I'm not sure that residents on Station Road would welcome Coun Francis' suggestions. That road is congested at the best of times."

He said a Town Partnership survey last year revealed adequate parking spaces in Otley, but not enough signposts for car parks.

Coun Eveleigh added: "What we don't want is a knee jerk reaction. It's not a key priority. You have still got to think about the needs of employees of firms in the town, and it might not be the right thing to ban them. Most people would resist."

His views were backed by Councillor Phil Coyne, who said: "What we should aim for is for people not to get in their cars in the first place. We should look at every opportunity for people to use buses."

A spokesman for Leeds City Council said: "We are currently improving sign posts to car parks and coach drop off points in Otley."

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