A public inquiry has started today into an application to provide a car park on a site next to Leeds Bradford Airport which has operated for a decade without planning permission.
Last year Sentinel applied to increase its operation on Warren House Lane, Yeadon, from 1,700 car parking spaces to 2,200.
Councillors heard that Sentinel did not have planning permission to operate a car park there and were advised to refuse the application. Although they made said they were unwilling to grant permanent permission, they stopped short of officially refusing the application.
Councillors instead invited Sentinel to apply for temporary permission.
Traffic congestion concerns
Local groups including Aireborough Civic Society have raised concerns about traffic congestion in the area and the need for better public transport to the airport.
Ahead of the inquiry at the Civic Hall, Sentinel claimed off-site parking services for the airport have been provided on the land since 1965 and that Sentinel Airport Parking, which employs approximately 50 local people, has been licensed to provide this service by the airport for some 15 years – dating back to the original local authority owners.
Sentinel Managing Director Ed Hayes said he supported Leeds Council's initiatives to improve public transport links to the airport by providing a road link to the Ring Road and a rail link to the Leeds Harrogate line but these proposals were still at a very early planning stageand had no funding. Hayes added:
"We are a hard-working, viable business and are being threatened with closure for absolutely no good reason.
"We accept that there was some confusion over formal planning consents, but we cannot see why we should not be allowed to continue to provide what is clearly a much-needed and appreciated service."
