Transport bosses to tackle Ilkley's parking issues (From Ilkley Gazette)

Transport bosses to tackle Ilkley's parking issues

9:37am Thursday 25th October 2012 in Local news By Amanda Greaves

Transport bosses must work with Bradford Council to tackle Ilkley’s commuter parking problems, Bradford Council’s leader said this week.

Councillor David Green (Lab, Wibsey) said parking issues in the town were of concern to him, but passenger transport executive, Metro, and rail infrastructure authority, Network Rail, needed to recognise a duty to provide adequate spaces.

He said: “Much of the problem relates to commuter parking, and the issue needs to be dealt with in conjunction with Metro and Network Rail, who need to recognise they have a duty to provide adequate parking for one of their major transport hubs in West Yorkshire.”

Coun Green responded to questions tabled by ward councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) ahead of last week’s full meeting of Bradford Council.

Coun Hawkesworth asked the leader if there was a conflict between parking congestion in residential streets and the proposed 1,300 new homes mooted for the area as part of Bradford District’s Local Plan.

She put forward a further question, asking when an on-street parking review, promised during the previous council leader’s tenure, would begin.

She claimed Coun Green was “shocked” to see on-street parking when he recently visited Ilkley town centre.

In answer to the question on parking and the 1,300 extra dwellings, Coun Green said the need for parking restrictions on main access routes would be assessed by experienced engineers at the time of any planning application.

Coun Green assured Coun Hawkesworth the initial survey of current parking provision in Ilkley would take place before the end of the financial year.

A Metro spokesman said: “Metro works with rail industry partners, local and district councils to identify viable schemes we can submit to the Department for Transport for funding, and continue to do so as new funding steams become available.”

Network Rail also confirmed it was willing to work in partnership.

“Network Rail is happy to work with any partners to look at future solutions to parking problems at Ilkley station,” a spokesman said.