Butcher's beef about parking

David Lishman, whose business in based in Leeds Road, believes urgent action is needed before traders begin to really suffer.

Addressing an open meeting of Ilkley Parish Council, Mr Lishman said the time had come to prevent all day parking in certain areas. He pointed to acute problems in Nile Road, Victory Road, Trafalgar Road and Wharfe View Road.

Mr Lishman said shoppers could not find anywhere to stop and pop into shops. Residents living in the roads named could not park outside their own homes.

"We rely on this cash and carry system, where people can come in, buy what they want and then drive off," said Mr Lishman.

He felt spaces were being taken up by 'nine to five' workers and those Ilkley residents who parked their car in the town before taking a bus or a train into Leeds or Bradford.

Coun Audrey Brand (Con, Menston) said more should be made of the Wharfedale Line. It was not essential for people to come to Ilkley by car. There was a public transport alternative.

Mr Lishman would like to see two hour parking restrictions introduced with permits for residents. He also made the suggestion that those living and working in Ilkley could consider walking to work.

This would allow customers to park and allow independent traders to compete with the town's larger businesses.

Coun Mike Lynes (Con, Ilkley West) said Mr Lishman's concerns were part of a wider issue - the need for a long stay car park.

He said: "I would propose we do not just look at the situation at an odd road but at overall parking provision."

He said there was a desperate need for a coach dropping off point, a coach park and a need for a long stay car park between the town centre and down by the river.

Coun Lynes suggested land beyond the Ilkley Playhouse in Weston Road could be a suitable site but he felt the problem should not be just pushed from one area of the town to another.

He said it was an issue the now defunct Chamber of Trade had been pursuing for more than 10 years without success.

The meeting also heard a suggestion for more yellow lines. However, Inspector Alison Bennett of Ilkley Police said this could create enforcement

problems.

Coun Lynes said: "We must have a multi pronged attack on this issue." One member of the public present at the meeting believed about 500 cars made up the 'all day parkers' so it would need a space the size of East Holmes field to accommodate them all. He felt it was essential to do more than simply tinker with the problem.

Coun Barbara Cussons (Con, Ilkley North) said finding a car parking site was not a simple task. She said it was a case of finding a suitable 'pocket' for one.

Mr Lishman warned time was not on traders side, listing several businesses in the Leeds Road area which had recently closed.

Ilkley Civic Society chairman Bob Tilley agreed with the fears of those who believed displacement could occur if parking issues were not addressed

together. "It really needs a thorough review, indeed traffic issues as a whole, including speeding," he said.

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