PLANS to crack down on matchday parking around Bradford City’s stadium have been criticised.

Bradford Council has issued a draft Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), which would restrict on-street parking between noon and 9pm on matchdays for the Bantams.

A Bradford City spokesperson confirmed the club had contacted the Council opposing the plans, which it said could also have a potential knock-on effect to the non-matchday income the Bantams generate.

The spokesperson said: “We sympathise with businesses around Valley Parade and we appreciate on matchdays there is a huge influx of cars which can add to any inconvenience.

“But where will Bradford City supporters park? For years and years fans have parked around the stadium.

“We don’t want to restrict anyone coming to watch Bradford City.”

The TRO would also affect event days held at Valley Parade, also between noon and 9pm. These include speed awareness courses and wedding receptions, which the club says it held more than 150 of last year.

“A lot of our income comes from six-days-a-week events, such as driver training courses. These delegates need somewhere to park,” said the spokesperson.

The order includes no waiting and no loading on lengths of Thorncliffe Road, Cliffe Terrace, Burlington Street, Midland Road, Valley Parade and South Parade.

It also includes parking for one hour – with no return within two hours – on sections of Thorncliffe Road, Valley Parade and Burlington Street, with exceptions for permit holders on some parts of Burlington Street.

Parking for 15 minutes with no return within two hours, except for permit holders, is proposed on a length of Cliffe Street.

Bus parking on a length of South Parade and ambulance parking on a section of Valley Parade are also being proposed.

Residents and businesses in the affected streets around City’s stadium had mixed views on the plans.

Arosh Ali, 45, who has lived opposite the ground in Valley Parade for the last 30 years, said: “Parking is a massive problem on matchdays, people park anywhere and anyhow.

“Nobody listens to us. All the car park spaces outside my house are turning into disabled spaces.”

Sahil Tai, joint partner of Ayesha Foods and Tropical Ices, on Cliffe Avenue, said matchday parking caused his business problems.

He said: “It is a nightmare on a Saturday.

“What the council is going to be doing would be better for us.”

Zabaid Iqbal, who runs Car and Light Commercials, a mechanics on Burlington Street, said fans needed somewhere to park on matchday.

He said: “Sometimes it’s a nightmare on matchdays, but I think that it has got to go on. We need City to do well.

“If more fans go here, it will be better for Bradford. As long as I have space to park my cars outside, then that will be okay.”

Adam Baker, Bradford City Supporters’ Trust secretary, said: “The club is a major source of footfall within the city centre, a lot by people who travel from outside of Bradford. It is important to encourage this to visitors.”

Emmerson Walgrove, Bradford & District Disabled People’s Forum chairman, said: “Bradford City has a number of disabled fans that would need access on matchdays that would not be able to park their cars close to the stadium.”

The council said it was considering responses from the public, following yesterday’s deadline for comments.

A council spokesperson said: “There are a series of amendments to waiting restrictions on various streets in the Midland Road area that were consulted on until yesterday.

“We’ve been discussing the proposals with Bradford City and other affected parties and will continue to do so as we consider any representations made.

“We know it’s important to strike the right balance between the needs of the club and the needs of local residents and if we can amend the proposals to better achieve this based on the consultation responses we receive then of course we will look to do so.”