A COUNCILLOR has vowed to lobby the Secretary of State for Transport and Ilkley's MP, claiming the local demand for an answer to parking problems is about to hit 'fever pitch'.

Ilkley parish councillor, Mike Ridgway, was among those who welcomed Transport Secretary, Patrick McLoughlin, to Ilkley in the run-up to this year's General Election.

Now he says he will approach the senior Government figure again to put greater pressure on Bradford Council to end Ilkley's car parking woes.

Cllr Ridgway, who has taken on the car parking issue on behalf of Ilkley Parish Council, says he is now being contacted by many more residents concerned that nothing is being done to stop inconsiderate and potentially hazardous parking on residential streets across the town.

Ilkley people have also been writing to the Gazette on the issue - in particular about the long delay in putting double yellow lines on Grove Road, and taking action about parking on Bridge Lane and Bolton Bridge Road.

"I'm getting a constant stream of people who are coming to me about parking," said Cllr Ridgway. "The situation is that things are reaching fever pitch, people are really getting annoyed about this.

He plans to contact the Transport Secretary in an effort to get urgent action.

"Patrick McLoughlin said quite clearly that parking issues are the responsibility of the local authority," Cllr Ridgway added.

Cllr Ridgway initiated a petition on behalf of Ilkley Parish Council late last year, calling for extra commuter car parking and a full review of Ilkley’s parking issues.

He also plans to approach the town's MP, Kris Hopkins, who currently serves as Vice-Chamberlain of the Household in the House of Commons, over the requirement for road schemes such as traffic regulation orders to be approved by the Department for Transport.

Coun Ridgway believes putting this in the hands of the local authority would speed up the process.

Some progress on parking schemes could be coming this week, however, as Bradford Keighley Area Committee chooses traffic regulation orders for the Keighley constituency from a list requested schemes.

Bradford councillor, Martin Smith (Con, Ilkley) says this follows co-operation between himself, residents and Bradford Council officers.

"It is possible that traffic islands and pedestrian refuge and signing to Bolton Bridge road and Skipton road may receive approval for work in 2015/16, as will repositioning street light at the bottom of Cowpasture road/ Maxwell Road, together with Church Street/Cunliffe Road bollards to stop verge parking," said Cllr Smith.

Other schemes are under consideration, says the report to be presented at the meeting today, July 23.