ADDINGHAM residents have revealed what they say is the dangerous parking they have to contend with on a daily basis as a local business makes another bid to secure planning permission.

One said that local people "take their lives into their hands" when passing the line of parked cars on the road outside the Joyful Deli at Holme House Farm in Ilkley Road, Addingham.

The Deli has been operating as a business for a number of years and sells locally produced groceries, foods, drinks and delicatessen products. It also has a café/restaurant.

The business has, since 2022, expanded its internal footprint and in August was refused retrospective planning permission to operate by Bradford Council. The local authority's concerns included the fact the development offers no off-street parking resulting in cars and delivery vehicles parking on Ilkley Road blocking the free-flow of the traffic.

Now the business has submitted a further retrospective planning application - validated on September 20 - for the extension to existing farm shop and café.

A letter, submitted as part of the application, on behalf of Mrs J Pittendreigh, the applicant and owner of the business, addresses the reasons for refusal, including the matter of parking.

The letter states it is "inappropriate to seek off-street parking" and "a new car park is considered to be disproportionate to the nature of the proposal."

It adds: "... the comments from Highways Development Control appear to provide no reason as to why the situation is unsafe or requires mitigation. On street parking is not an unusual situation, particularly within areas that were developed before car ownership became popular. It is not, however, for existing developments to address the lack of off-street parking, and we do not imagine that a business proposing an extension to existing facilities would be required to provide off street parking in other parts of the district, especially where on street parking was already available.

"In any event, the character of the road allows for traffic to pass in both direction whilst managing traffic speeds on a stretch that might otherwise encourage speeding."

But one resident, who did not want to be named, said: "I live at Low Mill, along with 200 other residents, and this is our access route. We take our lives into our hands driving past a long row of parked cars. I personally have had three near head on collisions.

"Also this is a major route for the buses to Keighley and Skipton who can barely squeeze past the constant line of parked cars.

"At the Parish council meeting in Addingham it was on the agenda that so many residents have complained about the Deli to the council, councillors, Robbie Moore MP, the local police and to Bradford Council.

"I have no personal grudge against Mrs Pittendreigh - this is simply the wrong business in the wrong location."

Cllr Caroline Whitaker (Green, Craven ward) added: "What concerns local residents most about the situation on Ilkley Road is highway safety.

"Anyone who has driven down there during the day will have seen a long row of parked cars and often a very tall wide horsebox. I know from experience that when approaching this row from Addingham it is almost impossible to see oncoming traffic and I have been told that residents have had several near collisions because of this restricted visibility.

"Whatever is decided about the proposed planning application Bradford Council needs to ensure that measures are put in place to prioritise road safety."