Councillors will need the wisdom of Solomon to solve a speed hump row which has split a Keighley street’s residents down the middle.

Questionnaires given to householders in Providence Crescent, Oakworth, have come back with 50.46 per cent in favour and 49.54 per cent against the scheme first proposed in July 2012.

And although of the 109 forms returned 55 were in favour and 54 against, Bradford Council officers are recommending Keighley Area Committee should scrap the whole idea when it meets on Thursday.

Historically the initial plan met with a total of 12 objections in October 2013, including a woman who claimed she had such a bad back problem any humps could leave her housebound and therefore she would suffer discrimination.

Another man feared humps might cause pain to his wife who has disc damage to her back.

But when it was proposed to shelve the scheme, campaigners in favour of calming measures suddenly came forward last November and fresh consultations took place.

Yesterday, Providence Crescent remained firmly divided.

Dad-of-three and professional childminder Andy Wade said he and wife Helen were for the physical measures and said why he thought they were needed.

“Parents running a bit late shoot up the road at school times to drop kids off at a snicket which leads to Oakworth Primary – that’s one problem.

“But people tear along at other times too and there’s a lot of children out playing in the street who shouldn’t be put at risk by fast cars.

“And to say humps damage cars is just nonsense, it’s a false argument. It could only happen if people drive over them too quickly.”

Young mum Charlotte Wood said: “People think it will affect their house prices, but personally I think they are a good thing.

“There are loads of children here and when my son grows up, I want him to be able to play out safely.”

But wine importing executive Marco Di Rienzo said: “My wife and I don’t think we need these things – the road is narrow enough with parked cars to slow the traffic down anyway – cars are slowed down naturally.”

Keighley Area Committee meets on Thursday from 6pm at Keighley Town Hall.