Work together to develop a strategy for the future (From Ilkley Gazette)

Work together to develop a strategy for the future

2:23pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Opinion/Letters By The Editor

Bradford Council’s regeneration portfolio holder Councillor David Green has clearly stated the position on the proposals to scrap free on-street parking across the district.

He has firmly stated that nothing has been decided, nothing has been pushed through and he is totally open to a much wider consultation about parking and traffic issues in the town.

Coun Green was at a meeting organised by the Ilkley Business Forum in the wake of our report that he had never been asked for help by struggling traders and other businesses in the town.

A number of issues were raised but the main focus was on the issues of parking, commuters and traffic flow in the future.

One of the positive outcomes of the meeting was — in many respects blindingly obvious — that a much wider consultation, with business and residents was needed rather than any piece-meal action on parking.

Coun Green stated he was neutral after hearing good things and bad things about parking fee suggestions.

The major thing which the metropolitan council has to keep in mind is that a one-size fit for parking across the district won’t work.

All of the outlying towns and villages have a unique set of issues and they must be treated as such.

For example, Ilkley is now a major rail head attracting a growing number of commuters, a figure which will rise as more homes are built.

Coun Green stepped into the ‘lion’s den’ and made his views clear — asking to be judged in the months to come. He knows he will be.

The only way forward is working together to finally develop a strategy for the future of Ilkley, embracing the whole raft of issues facing the town.