A car dealership which hopes to build a grand showroom at its Otley site has sparked anger among residents who fear it could worsen parking problems.

Massingberd says the £500,000 plans for its Leeds Road site are part of a £1.4 million global scheme to upgrade Volkswagen dealers. And Chief Executive Mike Massingberd claims that almost 50 jobs will be axed at the site if the improvements do not go ahead - because Otley Massingberd will lose its Volkswagen franchise.

But residents who voiced their concerns to him at a meeting accused Massingberd workers of clogging up Leeds Road and Craven Street with parked cars.

Resident Jaqueline Baulding told him: "Your employees sometimes park their cars outside my house. One employee had a 'for sale' sign on the car. It's been quiet lately. I think that's because the planning application's going through."

Other residents claimed trucks frequently disturbed them in the early hours of the morning.

Andrew Ingle, of Leeds Road said: "It's like a cattle market."

But Mr Massingberd said the changes would not force customers to park on roads, as new parking spaces would be created on the site. He said car parks were rented for staff, but pledged to address other concerns.

He said: "We provide a 24-hour service for our customers and cars don't break down between 8am and 5pm. On market days we do have a problem in that area, but we go to great lengths to ensure that we have car parking for all our staff."

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