Athington could have “the first eco-friendly train station in West Yorkshire” if enough people get behind a proposal by Pool Parish Council.

The council is asking residents for their thoughts on a scheme that would see the station, closed since 1965, re-opened at its previous, original site south of Arthington Lane.

Pool Parish Councillor Steve Brady believes the project, linked to an initiative to create an off-road cycle and walking route on the old line from Arthington to Pool and Otley, would create an environmentally sustainable station.

Pool Parish Council has sent a questionnaire to householders, while Coun Brady is arranging a meeting with West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive, Metro.

Arthington Parish Council, however, has already raised concerns about how adequate parking could be provided.

Coun Brady said: “Parking is a big issue, but that’s why we’re looking at this cycle and walking track which would run to Otley in one direction and up to Harewood in the other. That would reduce the required number of parking spaces and not only help people get to Arthington without using a car, but give the whole area a tourism boost.

“I’ve spoken to Network Rail and there isn’t a private ownership issue with the site we’re looking at, opposite the Wharfedale Inn.”

In his letter, Coun Brady said: “Pool is a difficult place to get to or leave without the use of a motor vehicle. The bus service to Leeds usually requires a change and can take well over an hour. So it is no surprise most of us use our cars – because we have little choice.

“As Leeds Bradford Airport continues to expand, traffic through the village will increase and things can only get worse. This proposal would offset that situation and have a direct benefit to us all.

“Our quality of life needs to improve and our time spent travelling has to be reduced. Our reliance on the car can change in favour of something much more environmentally friendly.

“A short walk or cycle to the station followed by an 18-minute train journey to Leeds or Harrogate would put Pool back on the ‘best places to live’ list.”

Coun Brady acknowledges that the conventional costs of building a small station – about £5 million – would be prohibitive. But he believes using a technique where steel-framed buildings are constructed off-site would dramatically cut costs.

He said: “If the residents of Pool tell us they want it we’ll try to achieve it. I hope Arthington and Bramhope’s parish councils will do something similar and ask their residents.”

Arthington Parish Council chairman Coun Basil Thompson said: “We’d love to have a railway station here, it does need one and it would be very popular.

“It would make things much better but there are too many ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ and we really can’t see a feasible car parking solution. We’ve told Pool that unless they come up with one we can’t support it.

“It would be nice to get lots of people coming on foot or by bicycle, but the fact is people will go by car and need a car park.”

Coun Clive Fox (Con, Adel & Wharfedale), who is also a member of Arthington and Bramhope & Carlton Parish Councils, said: “Whilst the station re-opening sounds attractive, there are so many practical draw-backs the reality is it seems an unlikely prospect.

“Arthington was identified as one of about 30 possible candidates for a new station a few years ago. It came near the bottom of the list and the indications are that only the top half-dozen are ever likely to see the light of day.

“Typically, rail operators would want to see about 350 parking spaces for any new station. But the land surrounding Arthington station is in the green belt and privately owned, so it is difficult to see how this could be achieved.

“There is then the further complication of generated traffic, nearly all of which would come through Pool.”

Some 600 people signed a petition in support of a campaign to get the station re-opened nine years ago.

Plans for an estimated £8 million new railway station at Apperley Bridge, meanwhile, were approved by Bradford Council in March.

That scheme would see the station built to the south of Little Park and includes a 300-space car park, with an access road to the south and south west. But the project could yet stall as its funding is now being reviewed by the coalition Government as part of its wide-ranging public spending review.