The boss of an Otley car dealership has promised to meet residents and councillors on a regular basis to discuss traffic problems.

Mike Massingberd, chief executive of Massingberd of Otley, pledged to have regular meetings with members of the town council and representatives of the people who live close to the Leeds Road dealership.

He told a second public meeting at Otley Civic Centre, called to discuss the Volkswagen dealership's £500,000 upgrade, that the company wanted to get on with its neighbours.

And he said the garage's dealer principal, Paul Hogan, would meet with town councillors and residents' representatives to try and overcome any problems with cars blocking roads and late night deliveries. He told the meeting, he said: "We have no intention to upset anyone. We want to talk with our neighbours and we want to talk with our staff."

Residents told Mr Massingberd that they were not against the garage's upgrade of its premises, but they were concerned about an increase in activity on Leeds Road and of the late night delivery of car parts.

But Mr Massingberd stressed that the upgrade was necessary in order to retain the company's one remaining Volkswagen franchise.

.Business at the site would decrease, not increase.

He added that the company was in discussions with Volkswagen to try and stop the early morning delivery of spare parts.

As far as he knew no resident had ever complained to him about problems with parking.

Leeds City Council highways officer Mike Darwin and planning officer Daniel Devine told the meeting that there was a limited amount that the council could do to put parking restrictions on the garage.

And despite complaints from some residents that cars connected to the garage repeatedly parked outside residents' homes, Mr Darwin said people were free to park where they wanted on a public highway.

"Residents do not have the divine right to park at the front of their houses. I know, it doesn't sound nice but they don't," said Mr Darwin.

Mr Devine said the planning department could try and get Massingberd to provide car parking on the site, but it could not force the company to use it.

" I am trying to get them to provide car parking on the site, but if people don't use it, I cannot do anything about it," said Mr Devine.

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