A PLEA to relax parking restrictions in Huddersfield's pedestrianised areas has been made.
But businesses who want to allow their customers to park up in New Street in the evenings are unlikely to get their way.
Kirklees Council officials who have investigated the appeal believe it would jeopardise safety to allow cars on to the paved areas.
And they are recommending to councillors next week that the request should be ignored.
The plea for vehicles to be allowed to use New Street for parking came from a number of businesses, including the Shabab restaurant and the Union Bank bar.
They claim that their custom is being affected because people cannot park close to their premises.
Currently all parking is banned on the pedestrianised stretches of New Street.
Vehicles are allowed to load and unload between midnight and 10am and 4pm to midnight, if there is no other way to and from the premises.
A council spokesman said: "Huddersfield now has a thriving town centre which has been improved by the implementation of the pedestrianised area.
"The centre also has a flourishing evening leisure industry and as a result there are large numbers of pedestrians using New Street until late in the evening.
"If parking was allowed to return after 6pm there would be a conflict of interests between vehicles needing to load and unload, vehicles looking for available places to park, and pedestrians.
"The pedestrianisation scheme for New Street aimed to create a safe and attractive shopping environment."
Officers insist there were plenty of available parking spaces, both on streets and in the multi-storey car parks.
