Yeadon becoming glorified airport car park claims councillor

12.00.00am GMT Mon 4th Jan 2010

Councillor Ryk Downes has slammed plans to turn more industrial sites in Yeadon into airport car parks.

Two planning applications have been submitted recently to turn potential employment sites into car parks. Cllr Downes argues that these sites could be used for offices and manufacturing, giving a boost to the area's economy and bringing in jobs. He believes that plans go against the airport's policy of investing in and encouraging the use of public transport.

Cllr Ryk Downes, Lib Dem (Otley & Yeadon) said:

"I am a supporter of the airport, particularly because we were promised that it would attract jobs to the area. However, recently, we have seen a worrying trend in the opposite direction with a car park planning application for land off Warren House Lane which had been earmarked for development. This was followed over Christmas by a further application to convert an industrial unit in the old Avro factory off Harrogate Road into a car park.

"It is important that we maintain and expand employment opportunities in Yeadon but we cannot do this if employment sites are taken over for airport parking. I believe we should have a proper consultation with the local community about the impact of parking on the area and I will therefore be inviting officers of the Planning Department to the next Yeadon Forum so they can discuss this issue with the local community."