Otley is backing a park and ride bus service linked to a new station planned at Arthington.

Although Otley Town Partnership has concerns about the exact location of a park and ride car park in the town and the cost of a new station, its members are backing Pool-in-Wharfedale Parish Council’s bid to see a station opened south of Arthington Lane.

Neighbouring Arthington Parish Council, however, says it cannot support plans for the village to have a station again because of question marks over parking, funding and traffic.

As well as meeting Otley Town Partnership, Pool councillors met Harrogate Line Rail Users Group to discuss the project.

The town partnership came up with the idea of creating a park and ride facility in Otley which would be linked, by bus, to both Arthington and Menston stations.

Pool councillor Steve Brady believes that would help allay some of Arthington Parish Council’s fears about the impact of the scheme.

He said both the town partnership and the Harrogate rail users group “were very supportive of the idea”.

“One positive idea that came from a meeting with Otley Town Partnership was the suggestion to provide a park and ride facility in Otley with a bus connection to both Arthington and Menston stations,” said Coun Brady.

“Coupled with the proposed cycle track – using the old railway line that runs from Otley to Arthington via Pool – that would mean it would be eco-friendly, sustainable and not too difficult to achieve. In addition to the information Pool-in-Wharfedale Parish Council sent to Arthington, I made a personal appeal to Coun Basil Thompson to get behind the idea.

“Arthington’s response so far remains unchanged, however they have indicated they are prepared to take part in a forum convened to pursue the matter further.

“Meanwhile, we have had another meeting with Metro and Corus Rail Construction on site to evolve a base cost study for the station.”

Coun Brady believes the expense of providing the station, using low-cost prefabricated platforms, could turn out to be “cost neutral” with the income generated proving to be more than enough to pay for it.

Arthington Parish Council chairman Coun Thompson, however, has serious doubts. He said: “Our response . . . reiterates what we’ve said before: that firstly, we’re not sure there’s money available for this as there are about three other stations getting the go-ahead in the region that are higher up the list.

“But the biggest worry for us is the parking, because unless there’s a properly sized car park provided the worry is that people would be parking on the road and up side streets. And there would obviously be an effect on the A659 as it would create more traffic, which would have to turn off the road at Arthington and then pull back out again.

“We’re not against re-opening the station, and we have said we’re willing to take part in future meetings, but the parking is the issue that would really make us say ‘yea or nay’.”

Town partnership chairman Peter Heald said: “Getting a park and ride scheme, with a bus link originally just to Menston, has been in our action plan for some time with the favoured site being at the top of Station Road. There are some complications, though, since the auction mart uses it, too, so any arrangement would have to accommodate them, but Metro quite liked the idea.”