AN ILKLEY councillor has branded proposals to change parking restrictions in the town “clearly not practical and not workable”.

Bradford Council is proposing to adopt the recommendations of a parking review conducted by consultants Steer Davies & Gleave but wants to know local people’s view on them before a final decision is made. The recommendations include:

l Permit parking in residential areas immediately surrounding the town centre

l Prohibited parking areas to improve traffic flow

l Town centre pay and display parking with an initial free grace period

l Additional disabled parking bays

l New loading areas.

Two drop-in meetings have already taken place and were well attended so an additional consultation session has been arranged at the Clarke Foley Centre, Ilkley, on Monday, October 8 from 1pm to 7pm.

Council officers will be in attendance to explain the proposals, answer questions and record feedback.

After studying the proposals Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said: “They are inadequate and do half a job, if that. They produce even more problems probably than they solve.

“Any traffic - hence parking - plan involving a tight grid of narrow streets needs to consider not only where there should be restricted parking but also how the traffic should flow.

“If there is tight parking on both sides of a narrow street, that street can no longer function without a one-way system.

“There is no consideration whatsoever of how the employees of small businesses are going to commute and park in the town.

“They can car share but where to park?

“It needs to introduce a park and ride on the A65 between Addingham and Ilkley which can be visited by service bus companies.

“Any parking scheme where there is charging encourages a pack of card effect and will mean residents outside the scheme will suddenly have parking in their streets.

“Ben Rhydding currently is overparked - I am talking of the streets between the two centres.

“Any plan needs to be comprehensive and consider the whole effect and not just cherry picking. I encourage all to visit the extra consultation and voice their views.

“I also have voiced my concerns to the council that those officers at the consultation must listen to the views and not offhandedly give residents the impression that it is a fait accompli and they are just going through the motions.

“There is little doubt that habits generally will have to change in the future, not just Ilkley but elsewhere - more walking, cycling, public transport and joint use of taxis and car sharing.

“However, conditions need to change also.

“Pavements are for walking and roads are supposed to be for driving - parking shouldn’t be half and half.”

The proposals are available at www.bradford.gov.uk/consultations where people can provide feedback. The closing date is October 19.