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'Not enough parking spaces' means Heptonstall is losing visitors
VISITORS could be put off one of Calderdale's most famous tourist hotspots because there are virtually no parking spaces, residents and councillors say.
Heptonstall – famous for its historic architecture, picturesque countryside and being the burial place of Sylvia Plath – has no more than 40 public spaces.
Now parish and Calderdale councillors are uniting to demand action.
Mike Edwards, Heptonstall Parish Council chairman, said: "This has been a problem for a long time but there has been a new development of 30 flats – Valley View – which will be filling up soon, and that's going to exacerbate the whole situation because it means more cars.
"Quite simply, we have a lot of visitors here and that means we need improved facilities.
"We cannot afford to go on without extra spaces being created."
Campaigners have suggested a plot of land adjacent to the Valley View development, called The Delph, could be transformed into a car park.
Janet Battye (Lib Dem, Calder) said: "This would be the perfect location – away from the historic village centre but close enough to be convenient.
"Heptonstall is a tourist hotspot but it won't stay one if people can't park there – something needs to be done quickly before the village hits a decline."
Calderdale Council said they were considering options – but a solution was proving difficult.
Network manager Nigel Pickles said: "We recognise there are parking issues and will take account of them when developing the borough- wide parking policy.
"The suggestion of constructing a new car park on The Delph has substantial planning implications, which are unlikely to be solved easily.
"We have drafted some alternative parking layouts and provided indicative costings, together with planning advice that could be used by the parish council, should they wish to take the proposal forward themselves."
He added that the bowling green car park was available to the public in the meantime.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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