Protests from hundreds of call centre workers have failed to stop highways chiefs imposing a new parking ban outside their office.

The largely female workforce of the Midland Bank customer service centre on the Euroway industrial estate petitioned Bradford Council when it proposed parking restrictions outside.

The Council was acting after complaints from a neighbouring firm, Budget Greetings Cards, that the volume of parked cars meant its articulated lorries could no longer drive up to the premises in Wharfedale Road.

But the Midland employees objected, claiming that many of the workers were female, often working irregular hours with some shifts ending at 3am, and they needed parking space which was well lit, secure and covered by closed-circuit television.

The objectors warned that if car parking spaces were lost some of them would be forced to park in residential areas around Rockhill Lane. There was very little in the way of public transport serving the industrial estate and cars were a necessity. Efforts were made to car share but it was often not possible due to differing work hours and the fact that staff live over a wide area.

After the concerns were raised by bank employees, highways officials came back with a compromise deal that allowed some on-street parking to remain.

However the protesters said that their objections still stood.

The highways committee meeting approved the new parking ban.

Councillor Adrian Longthorn (Lab, Thornton) said: "Budget Greetings Cards have been there for a number of years and now Midland Bank are causing problems."

Councillor Tony Niland (Lab, Wyke) added: "The companies concerned in that area should work together and try and get the bus companies to put more routes on to cut down on the parking problems."

Unauthorised gates on bridleways in Silsden and Keighley are to be investigated after complaints from horse riders.

The Council has also devised a new policy which acknowledges its duty in keeping bridleways clear.

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