YEARS of parking problems are taking their toll on a Huddersfield business.

A pot-holed track, owned by Kirklees Council, runs alongside safety and janitorial suppliers Louis France Ltd in Firth Street in Huddersfield.

Lorries delivering to the loading area at the back of Louis France use the track to get in and out.

But the track is often blocked by cars parked there unlawfully.

Warning signs are ignored and the company says tougher action now needs to be taken.

The managing director at Louis France, Graham Taylor, said: "Two signs have been put up telling drivers it is private land and they must not park there, but they are ignored.

"Things have got so bad now that cars are left double-parked down the track. Many belong to students attending Huddersfield University or workmen at the many sites being developed in the area.

"But it means lorries delivering to us just cannot get in or out.

"Even if they get down the track, more parked cars at the bottom mean there is no turning circle at the end to get into our loading bay."

He said it was causing a major safety problem with some heavy good vehicles having to stop on Firth Street and unload there.

Mr Taylor said: "This is far from ideal and certainly not what we want.

"We fear it is an accident waiting to happen."

He said even bin lorries could not now get down the track some days to empty the firm's bins.

"We either want the council to enforce the fact that no-one should park there, or else tarmac the track and put in designated pay and display parking down the side which leaves enough room for lorries to deliver," he said.

"Things are a nightmare as they are and it is incredibly frustrating."

He said the police could not get involved because the land was private.

A Kirklees Council spokesman said complaints had been received from Louis France regarding parking on the unmade road.

"We have written to adjoining lessees to try to resolve the situation as well as physically putting on cars parked on the land written requests to stop the practice," he said.

"We have also written to the police for help.

"The problem has escalated since the building of further student accommodation in that students park their cars there along with contractors who are working on the site.

"We have proposed a barrier to allow Louis France sole access, but they believe this would create a problem for them to police.

"We have also erected signs stating `strictly no parking at any time' at the entrance of the roadway, but these are being totally ignored.

"We are consulting the council's legal officers for further guidance."