A NEW depot for school buses can be created in Keighley, despite concerns from neighbouring businesses that it could cause major traffic issues.

Bus company Transdev, which provides school buses in the Keighley area, had applied to turn a stone yard on Marriner Road, just off Worth Way, into its new depot last year.

Their planning application was approved by Bradford Council this week, almost 11 months after the application was first submitted.

Members of the Council’s Keighley and Shipley Area Planning Panel were told that the company only leased, and did not own, its existing depot, on Woodhouse Road. They had been informed that the owners of that site now needed the land, and that the company would have to move.

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However at Wednesday’s meeting, in Keighley Town Hall, the panel heard from numerous businesses based on Marriner Road, who had objected over traffic and parking concerns.

The new site would have parking for 58 buses, although the Council approved parking for 55 buses.

Transdev said the buses would leave the site between 6am and 7.30am when the road is “lightly parked.” Buses would then return to the site between 8.30am and 10.00am.

They would leave for the afternoon run between 2.00pm to 2.30pm.

Objectors to the plans said the buses would cause conflict with other vehicles, pointing out that the road is used for parking by workers at other businesses on the road.

They also claimed it would cause congestion on Worth Way.

Referring to these concerns, planning officer Paul Verity said: “The situation is not perfect, but this is site is established as business use, and could still generate significant traffic for industrial vehicles.

“There is potential for occasional conflict with other vehicles, but there is no sustainable reason to refuse these plans.”

David Colley spoke to represent a number of businesses on the road, including Jenkins Carpets, McGowan Signs. He said parking on the street was “essential” for many of the businesses on the street, and that the stream of buses leaving the site could cause issues with deliveries and access for customers.

He said a traffic report produced by the objectors showed the site was wholly unsuitable for a bus depot, and that access to the site was to narrow for two buses to pass at the same time.

Highways Officer John Roley said traffic orders could be implemented in certain areas of the road to prevent congestion, and pointed out that no-one automatically has the right to park on a public highway.

Ian Hayfield, representing the applicants, said they were a “responsible, forward thinking company” that employed 270 local people.

He said the buses would be staggered when they pulled out of the site, and traffic would not have to wait for a queue of buses to pass to travel down the road.

Members voted to approve the plans.