A bid to stop drivers parking on a pedestrianised part of Shipley town centre has been welcomed by traders.

But some shopkeepers are calling for plans to introduce double yellow lines in a service yard behind Market Square to be replaced by a permit-holder only parking scheme for local businesses.

Driving, except for access, is already banned on the lower part of Wellcroft but drivers still regularly park there to get to Shipley Library, the Midland Bank and other nearby businesses. Now Bradford Council is proposing to bring in an additional No Waiting at any Time order for the area.

In a letter to traders outlining the proposed traffic regulation order, the Council's assistant engineer, Joe Grint, said: "This parking and associated traffic movements limits the effectiveness of Wellcroft as a pedestrian friendly environment.''

The Council is also creating a layby outside the Coral betting shop on Kirkgate and wants to make it a short-stay only parking zone.

It proposes to limit parking in the layby, which will have room for three or four cars, to 20 minutes between 8am and 6pm Monday to Saturday.

Market Square newsagent Eric Hudson, president of Bradford Chamber of Trade and vice-chairman of Shipley's Town Centre Management Committee, said as long as it was monitored, so people didn't park there all day, the layby on Kirkgate would help local shops by providing customers with a few extra short-term parking spaces.

Meanwhile the Council is proposing to ban parking in Back Market Square West, a service area for several businesses including Woolworths and Boots.

Mr Hudson said: "The committee will be suggesting the Council looks into the feasibility of having a permit system with a limited number of parking spaces for some of the local businesses without making it difficult for the lorry drivers.''

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