DEVELOPERS have set out the case for a second new car park near Steeton-Silsden railway station.

They claim there is enough demand for their planned car park in a wood yard in addition to the official multi-storey car park due to be built at the station.

They believe the second car park will be well-used by rail passengers, surrounding businesses, and staff and visitors at nearby Airedale Hospital.

Airedale Tree Surgeons, who own the wood yard, this month submitted a planning application to Bradford Council to build the 220-place car park.

The application came as delays hit the transformation of the existing 143-space station car park into a 247-space multi-storey structure.

Both projects aim to help avoid rail commuters clogging surrounding residential streets in Steeton with vehicles on a daily basis.

In the application, Skipton surveyors David Hill, on behalf of Airedale Tree Surgeons, said the wood yard car park would provide a vital service in a “logical and practical” location.

They said: “Parking is in high demand in the Steeton area, particularly around the railway station. The current facilities serving the station are inadequate. They are free and fill up very early in the morning.

“Even if the new multi-storey car park is opened there will be a continued high demand for car parking in that area, not just from users of the station.”

Airedale Tree Surgeons are based in the Old Goods Yard, off Station Road, between the Aire Valley Road and the station, and currently use the yard for their own vehicles and machinery.

David Hill said the yard had been used informally for the parking of cars for several years, with around 100 vehicles every day, at a cost of £3 each.

The new car park will have a surface of locally-sourced crushed stone, and will be accessed via the existing entrance from Station Road.

There will be 221 car parking space including seven disabled places, plus four motorbike spaces and ten bicycle places. A footpath will take pedestrians direct to the southbound platform at the railway station.

David Hill said the project had been designed to national car parking standards and would include additional landscaping to provide screening. There would be no risk of flooding.

Craven Ward councillor Adrian Naylor said there would be additional pressures on parking in coming months due to building work at Airedale Hospital, a new residents’ parking scheme in Steeton, and the closure of the existing railway car park during building work.

He said: “I welcome any attempt to provide alternative car parking because in the absence of such provision we are likely to see people parking anywhere they can, causing disruption elsewhere in Steeton.”