NEW parking restrictions for Ilkley town centre and proposals to extend the car park at Ben Rhydding station will go before Bradford Council’s Executive next week.

Permits for residents, on street pay and display parking, an increase in the number of disabled spaces and a loading bay for businesses are among the recommendations which the council is planning to adopt.

It is also in discussions to increase the amount of parking at Ben Rhydding Station.

Bradford is planning to adopt all the recommendations in a independent review of parking in Ilkley town centre.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, said: “The proposals will help better manage parking in and around the town centre, however, we understand concerns expressed by groups such as the Ilkley BID Development Board on the potential impact on people who work in the town centre. We will talk to partners to consider how we can mitigate this.

“We are also working with West Yorkshire Combined Authority on developing proposals for greater car parking capacity at Ben Rhydding train station, which would help alleviate some of the pressure currently caused by commuters.”

Ilkley’s MP John Grogan said: “The news that Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are going to develop an extended commuter car park on council owned land adjacent to Ben Rhydding Station is significant and is something I have been pressing for since I was elected in June 2017.

“My understanding is that this car park is now in the design stage and is scheduled for completion by 2021. “The current policy is for such car parks to be free and this should help draw away from Ilkley some of the commuter traffic.”

He added: “Following representations from constituents I met Tesco recently but they made clear to me that they had no plans to build a second tier on their car park in Ilkley not least because of the visual impact on residents living opposite. It is important to note that the council plans for residents permit parking are all subject to Traffic Regulation Orders which will be open to objections to be considered by the Keighley Area Committee of the Council .

“A good precedent was established a couple of years ago when residents permit parking was introduced in Bridge Lane and a decision was taken to allow highways officers to issue parking permits at their discretion in the street which can particularly assist small businesses.

“From my postbag I would anticipate that many residents will welcome permit parking but the Council is right to say that it will need to monitor carefully any displacement effects in neighbouring streets.”