ROAD-MARKINGS indicating a disabled parking space in Burley-in-Wharfedale are 'inappropriate' a resident has claimed.

Sue Jopling has complained that the lettering, in Peel Place, is out of keeping with the village

conservation area.

Miss Jopling, a committee member of Burley Community Council, said: "My concern is that in a conservation area it is inappropriate and unnecessary.

"As you drive down Peel Place there are large

letters right in the middle of the road.

"Everything like the street furniture and the

lighting should be in keeping."

Miss Jopling said she had not the slightest objection to the disabled parking bay itself - but was merely concerned about the signs.

She said: "It has nothing to do with the fact that it is for the disabled, only the appropriateness of the lettering. What we need is some discreet lettering, perhaps in the parking space, because if it is free you can see it is parking for the disabled. I just think the letters are offensive in a conservation area."

The lettering was put in place by Bradford City Council after drivers continually abused the space to visit nearby take-away outlets.

The space is mainly used by resident Derek Newsham, who has been an orange badge holder since he had a stroke.

His wife, Juliette, said although she understood that the lettering may offend some people, it did act as a deterrent to people using the space.

She said: "The congestion on Peel Place is very bad and the lines are constantly flouted by drivers. Although I see why some people object to it, we do need it. In the dark it is highly likely that they would not see a plaque on the wall, or even choose to ignore it. At least you cannot miss the lettering."

Mrs Newsham said she was concerned that Miss Jopling did not appreciate the difficulties her husband faced as a disabled driver.

She said: "She is not disabled so she does not have an insight into the problems that disabled people have in parking."

Mrs Newsham said that there were other flagrant breaks with the confines of the conservation area - but that this one served a purpose.

She said: "To say it is a conservation area, if you look around you see plastic windows and bright signs.

"They do not fit in a conservation area."

There is a second disabled parking space on Peel Place but it does not have the same road-markings.

Miss Jopling, through the community council, has taken up the matter with the city council.

A Bradford Council Highways spokeswoman said they were unlikely to remove it unless Mr Newsham requested it.

She said: "This parking space is mainly used by a disabled resident in the street, but it is very near the main road and shops and is likely to be used by other non-disabled motorists.

"As we have previously explained to the community council, we find that in such locations lettering on the road outside the white box is more successful in discouraging abuse than discreet signs which can go unnoticed.

"We have spoken to the resident who wants to retain the lettering to secure this parking space for disabled people. If he changes his mind in the future we will be happy to remove it."