Objection to proposal : CORP/PCD/DS/416313, Main Street, Burley in Wharfedale.
Section 51 of Planning Policy Statement 3 (PPS3): Housing1 (Communities & Local Government (CLG), June 2011 (first version November 2006)) required that:
“Local Planning Authorities should, with stakeholders and communities, develop residential parking policies for their areas, taking account of expected levels of car ownership, the importance of promoting good design and the need to use land efficiently.”
The National Planning Policy Framework (CLG, March 2012) carries forward the various aspects of Section 51, albeit they are not contained in a single section. The only specific guidance in respect of parking is Section 39:
“If setting local parking standards for residential and non-residential development, local planning authorities should take into account:
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the accessibility of the development;
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the type, mix and use of development;
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the availability of and opportunities for public transport;
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local car ownership levels; and
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an overall need to reduce the use of high emission vehicles.”
In January 2011, Government removed national limits on residential parking. Local authorities are still required to set parking standards for their areas, but they should do so having regard for local circumstances and without trying to control car ownership. The need to promote sustainable transport outcomes is not affected. The Government has concluded that national constraint policies have led to “significant levels of on-street parking causing congestion and danger to pedestrians”. In preparing new policies, local authorities are being urged “to make the right decisions for the benefit of their communities”.
Properties affected; no impact assessment is documented.
There are at least 65 terraced properties that will be affected by proposals, and with only 6 on street parking bays available between 8.00am and 5.00pm Monday to Friday, the conversion of the car park will create a residential parking problem, particularly given changes to working habits post-Covid. At present after these times, around 40 parking spaces are available for residential parking in the car park.
The car park previously operated a permit parking scheme. The scheme managed and introduced by CBMDC prior to the local Parish Council accepting responsibility for the car park. The Parish Council have since returned the asset to Bradford Council.
There was a widespread belief that a parking permit scheme would be re-introduced at this site to benefit residents of the adjacent properties.
Adhesion to planning legislation and sustainable transport.
The proposals above do not take account of any of the above, and council would need to show how this would meet the needs as outlined above in paragraphs 1 through 4.
The car park does not serve as a place to park and go shopping in Burley in Wharfedale, it is almost exclusively Burley residents who shop in Burley. Notwithstanding this fact, the car park is:
- 364.77 metres distant from the first local business, Cohens Chemist and Mark Spauls the butchers.
- 512.87 metres to the closest public house.
- 827.67 metres to the only fresh food retailer in the community, the Co-op, which could not be described as a shopping destination.
Public transport into and out of Burley has been classified as good, however, that’s not entirely factual, and transport connectivity from Burley has declined since the approval of the Sun Lane development. Let’s examine that in some detail:
- Connectivity with Leeds is good with a half-hourly train service to Leeds.
- Connectivity with Bradford is, by contrast quite poor, with an hourly train service.
- Bus services to Leeds; the X84, is a frequent service.
- There is no direct bus connectivity to Bradford or beyond Ilkley to many other parts of the district. This has been the case for 20+ years and remains the case today.
- Parking at Burley in Wharfedale station is above capacity with cars already parking on side streets. This is set to become worse as an additional 500 homes are being delivered. I already have evidence of Ben Rhydding residents commuting by car to Burley to catch the train.
It’s therefore safe to assume that most people living along Main Street/Ilkley Road have few parking alternatives when commuting to/from work. We are supposed to encourage the use of sustainable public transport networks, however, this scheme will have quite the opposite effect. Residents will have to travel by car to the station and/or to work, this is at odds to policy introduced by the Local Authority, PPS3 and the NPPF.
Parking Permit scheme(s) Traffic Management Act 2004.
Some clear thought needs to be given to a parking permit scheme. The provisions are detailed in the 2004 TMA, part 3.
I look forward to a favourable response that accords to current legislation.
Yours faithfully,
Cllr Bob Felstead, Wharfedale Ward
