Drivers snarling up popular park (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Fears for safety of visitors as cars causing traffic chaos at St Ives, Harden

10:29am Wednesday 20th April 2011 in Harden By Marc Meneaud, Aire Valley Chief Reporter

Guardians of a popular beauty spot in Bingley claim motorists are causing major traffic and parking problems for visitors – and potentially putting lives at risk.

The Friends of St Ives group, which looks after the estate, say they have received reports of motorists verbally abusing each other while trying to get past on a single-track lane leading up to a car park near its children’s playground.

It is often “gridlocked” by the drivers, posing a danger to pedestrians, a spokesman said.

They have also raised fears that ambulances and other emergency vehicles would not be able to get to the playground and the Mansion, a residential home for disabled people, because of motorists parking on grass verges leading to the playground.

Pam Laking, chairman of the Friends of St Ives group, said: “Everybody is trying to get to the centre of St Ives and there is not enough parking. People are parking on all the verges up the one-track road and it is just getting gridlocked on a weekend and bank holidays.

“People are getting really angry at each other when they can’t get past.”

She added: “The mansion has some very vulnerable people living there and they need provision for ambulance access. If the ambulances can’t get up to the mansion, it could be a life-threatening situation.”

Mrs Laking stressed that Bradford Council and the friends group were working hard to alleviate the traffic and parking problems.

A path leading from the lower car park at the Bingley entrance to the children’s playground has now been opened.

She said people should park in the bottom, Bingley entrance car park and walk up to the playground area.

Mrs Laking said: “The Council and the Friends of St Ives are really aware that more provision has to be made but we can’t do it overnight.

“People need to be more considerate about where they park.”

Marcus Edwards, who lives in a house on the St Ives estate, said the park had become a victim of its own success after winning Green Flag status and the opening of its impressive children’s playground.

• Read the full story in Wednesday's T&A