LOCAL authorities should come up with proposals to provide enough parking in towns such as Ilkley, says Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

Mr McLoughlin visited Ilkley last Friday with Keighley Conservative candidate, Kris Hopkins, to see Ilkley’s weekday parking problems for himself.

He was shown parking around Ilkley Station, and visited the Tesco new supermarket land – currently in the process of being sold – with Mr Hopkins, as well as Bradford Council candidate, Martin Smith, and parish councillor, Mike Ridgway.

Mr McLoughlin, who praised Ilkley’s rail service and good connections to services heading further afield, believes it is up to Bradford Council to address Ilkley’s commuter parking issues.

He said: “What Kris and the councillors have been talking to me about is the whole question of how there’s such a fantastic place like Ilkley, which is a great place to live and a great place to be, we’ve got to have the connections. People don’t feel they can get into Ilkley.”

Mr Hopkins said a survey of the biggest issues in the area had found parking was top concern.

Mr McLoughlin said: “It’s up to the local authorities, either through the Regional Growth Fund, or other funds, to come forward with proposals.” He added: “There is money available to improve economic viability – and that’s not just taking everybody out of Ilkley into Leeds, it’s also about how to get businesses created here, so people stay and work here.”

Ilkley parish councillors have been pushing for a solution for parking problems, with suggestions including creating a new car park for rail commuters – possibly on the Tesco-owned land off Railway Road and Mayfield Road. Tesco is currently in talks with bidders for the land, which is expected to be used for housing, although councillors have called for some of the land to also be set side to provide the additional commuter car parking space needed.