‘Re-open our road’ call by Manningham residents

A petition has been signed by 28 residents asking Bradford Council to re-open the part of Church Street which was closed to the west of its junction with St Mary’s Road in 1993.

At the time it was part of a package of measures used in a police-led scheme to reduce the amount of traffic linked to prostitution using the residential street.

Bradford West area committee will be told about the petition when it meets on Tuesday and will hear a report from regeneration and culture strategic director Barra Mac Ruairi.

The petition to get Church Street re-opened has been raised by residents who say added congestion has been caused since the Council made nearby Ambler Street one-way last June.

Even before the road closure had been approved, it was acknowledged a build-up of traffic could be one of the one-way scheme’s disadvantages.

Residents claim traffic is building up now because of it particularly on St Mary’s Road, Skinner Lane and especially at the junctions with Carlisle Road and Oak Lane.

The committee will be told the original reasons for closing Church Street have now been alleviated and opening it should free up traffic flow in the area.

Officers are recommending that removal of the road closure is added to the committee’s list of potential projects in a future Local Integrated Transport Scheme – depending on funding being available.

Ward councillor Ishtiaq Ahmed (Bradford Independent Group, Manningham) said residents were right that re-opening the road would ease traffic but it was not going to be “a quick fix” and they would probably have to be prepared to wait for it to happen even if the recommendation is approved.

He said: “Because of financial constraints on the Council it’s not going to happen overnight but residents need to know they have their councillors’ full support and we will do our best to put pressure on officers to try to push Church Street up the list of priorities.”