SELFISH rail users are obstructing and endangering local residents close to Burley-in-Wharfedale Station by carelessly parking their cars.

The abandoning of cars by people using the train means that emergency vehicles cannot reach a nearby group of houses, and waste collection vehicles are forced to plough up grass verges, one resident has claimed.

Bradford Council has now pledged to look at the situation to see if the introduction of waiting restrictions is appropriate outside the station.

Alan Greenwood, who lives in The Robins, a small group of houses close to the station, said residents were being inconvenienced by the acts of some rail-using motorists.

He said: "The road to The Robins was designed for single-line traffic to reduce speeding, with occasional passing places.

"The single line area is being used by people abandoning their cars to use the station.

"Not single parking, but double parking, so if an emergency vehicle had to come along, there is no chance that it could approach The Robins.

"There are grass verges which were laid down, I suppose, as some sort of environmental measure and these are now being driven over by everyone parking at the station."

Mr Greenwood, 61, said that the problem seemed to be at its height between 10am and 6pm.

And he said motorists were parking irresponsibly even when there were spaces available in the station car park, which is free of charge.

He said: "Even when there are spaces in the car park, people don't bother to park there and just abandon their cars on The Robins.

"I still work and I use my car and drive about 30,000 miles a year, so I am aware of traffic and what constitutes safe and unsafe driving conditions.

"What is happening is that some of these cars are being parked so they obstruct views, so that is a safety hazard, as well.

"I would say the majority of the problems are being caused by people living close enough to the station that they can walk to it."

He added: "We need some parking restrictions, such as double yellow lines.

"I have a neighbour who wishes to drive her horse box along and when cars are double-parking, she can't do that.

"If you can imagine a fire engine wanting to come along, there is no chance it could make it."

Mr Greenwood said that he feared the problem was getting out of control and called for action by Bradford Council and the police.

A spokeswoman for Bradford Council's Highways Department said: "We will be visiting the site to assess whether it would be suitable to introduce waiting restrictions on this road."

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