One of the 'Notorious Ilkley Five' reveals protest reasons

proposed coach park on Middleton Avenue said he acted on the grounds that it would be dangerous.

Furious parish councillors demanded to see objection letters which had persuaded Bradford Council not to go ahead with the plan after highway bosses said they were not going to show them to members.

But one of the five objectors, Michael Braithwaite, of Clifford Avenue, contacted the Gazette to explain why he thinks coaches should not be allowed to park on Middleton Avenue.

Mr Braithwaite said: "I admit to being one of the notorious 'Ilkley Five' who appear to have upset the parish councillors.

"I am objecting on what I believe are very valid reasons of road safety and restricting visitor parking in Ilkley, but I also have put forward three very legitimate alternative areas for coach parking.

"I am surprised at the reaction of the parish councillors who appear to believe they are entitled to more rights in local matters than an individual, and it is possible that there were no other objections because of apathy to the matter."

In his letter of objection to the

proposal for two coach parking bays costing £2,200, Mr Braithwaite says:

l The proposed parking of coaching at the proposed locations will cause a hazard to other traffic due to restricting the width of the remaining

carriageway.

l Coaches parking at the suggested locations will cause a safety hazard for pedestrians, particularly children, crossing from East Holmes to West Holmes fields and vice versa who will be in the middle of the road before they are able to see oncoming traffic.

l Coaches will detract from the attractiveness of the area which is enjoyed by the many visitors to the town.

l The spaces proposed, together with the restrictions on parking in the adjacent areas will severely limit the car parking for visitors to this part of the town.

Mr Braithwaite also proposes three other areas where he says coach parking could be provided: On Railway Road, on Railway Road car park or near Denton Road swimming pool.

He told the Gazette he thought more people would have objected to the plan if they had stopped to read the notices announcing it attached to lamp posts in the area.

He said his chief objection was on road safety grounds because he felt that two coaches parked in the area would cause a hazard."I accept that it is necessary to provide parking for coaches visiting the town as the

visitors are essential to the economy of the many shops in the town. It is not that I have objected for objecting sake, I am concerned that there could be a fatal accident there," said Mr Braithwaite.

His wife Pam, a retired vet, said that she had been called in the past to treat dogs which had been run over in the same area. She said children going between the two fields often ran across the road without checking for traffic.

"I am dead against it - it is very dangerous there," said Mrs Braithwaite.

Parish Clerk Miggy Bailey said parish councillors had written to highway bosses asking to see the objectors' letters and they were awaiting a reply.

One of the objectors to the plan turned out to be Ilkley Civic Society which objected on the grounds that Railway Road would be a more suitable location for the coach park.