A PARK and Ride scheme in South Bradford could lead to others throughout the District if it proves successful.

Proposals for a park and ride, with parking for almost 500 cars, near the M606 have been in the planning stages for several years.

But the proposals got a big boost with the announcement of a West Yorkshire Devolution Deal - with the park and ride scheme one of the Bradford projects included in a package of accompanying transport measures.

The scheme would allow people to park near the motorway and then travel into the city centre by a new bus service from the site, near Staithgate Lane, down Manchester Road.

Bradford Councillor Geoff Reid (Lib Dem, Eccleshill) recently asked Council bosses whether other park and ride schemes were in the pipeline for other areas of Bradford.

Pedestrianisation of city centre streets, park and ride and new cycleway among £500m 'Transforming Cities' bid

A written response to Cllr Reid said: "This scheme will be the first park and ride facility within Bradford and the pilot study for proving the viability of expansion of park and ride to other areas of the district such as Bradford East, West and up the Canal Road corridor.

"Park and Ride schemes, in addition to the capital cost of building the facility, require an on-going revenue stream from parking charges or bus tickets which is commercially attractive to bus operators who use the revenue to fund their costs.

"This commercial viability has previously made delivery of park and ride unattractive in Bradford due to the over-supply of parking in the city centre and the relatively low cost of parking all day.

"Therefore, to avoid the pitfalls of similar park and ride schemes where this viability has led to bus operators pulling out of running the service, or significantly reducing the days of operation it will be essential that that the Bradford South scheme can demonstrate the level of demand to justify further expansion into the wider district. "