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Customers at risk over illegal parking - bar owner

Keith Wildman A black hatchback-style car parked on a pavement with double yellow lines in front of it and a bar window in the background. Keith Wildman
Parking like this has become a regular occurrence on North Parade, according to nearby traders

Customers' safety has been put at risk by motorists parking illegally on pavements, a Bradford bar owner has said.

Keith Wildman, who runs The Record Café on North Parade, said car drivers routinely pulled up onto the pavement at all times of day and night, making them dangerous to use for pedestrians.

Mr Wildman called for bollards to be installed before someone was hurt.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said in the last year it had issued 2,516 penalty charge notices (PCNs) on North Parade for a range of offences, including parking on yellow lines, and added that the council was working on ways to "deter pavement parking".

Charles Heslett/BBC A bearded man with a scraped-back ponytail wearing a blue cardigan and blue and white Breton top underneath standing in a bar with a man sitting at a table in the background. Charles Heslett/BBC
Record Café owner Keith Wildman said some cars had been parked so closely to his bar, the headlights had dazzled customers inside

Mr Wildman, who has run his record shop, bar and charcuterie for 10 years, said: "Obviously there's a safety concern because it is cars driving on the pavement. They are driving up to the door.

"I don't want to be walking out - customers walking out - and into somebody mounting the pavement.

"Not to mention the negative impact it has on the look of the place. Customers are laughing about it, going 'oh yeah, Bradford parking'.

"It just reinforces the negative stereotype, not to mention the constant hassle we have of going out and telling people, 'you're not parking here, you're blocking'."

'Getting abuse'

Mr Wildman said some drivers parked so close to his glass-fronted bar that customers sitting inside were dazzled by the headlamps.

"I've had people parking, blocking across the front door; people parking up to the window with their lights on, shining in. Then I'm having to go out and say, 'can you turn your lights off?' Then I'm getting all the abuse."

Last year, Bradford Council completed a £2m redevelopment of North Parade, Rawson Square and Northgate as part of its Top of the Town scheme.

It included the installation of natural stone paving, widening of pavements and the creation of a network of rain gardens to reduce flood risk.

Traders had previously expressed concerns about the loss of on-street parking for both delivery drivers and customers.

Keith Wildman The inside of a bar looking out through a plate glass, floor to ceiling window which shows a silver-coloured car parked close to tables outside. Keith Wildman
Cars had been parked too close to the entrance to the bar, according to Mr Wildman

Responding, a Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of the traders’ concerns about parking on North Parade and have been taking proactive enforcement action to tackle inconsiderate and illegal parking.

“We have issued 2,516 penalty charge notices for a range of contraventions in the last year on North Parade, including parking on double yellow lines.

"However, where a vehicle is visibly loading or unloading we are unable to issue PCNs.

“We are also working with businesses to find solutions which deter pavement parking, protect the public realm and work for them and their customers.”

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