A MAJOR commuter through route to Bradford will be closed on six different days for resurfacing, sparking fears of more traffic chaos in the Wilsden and Harden area.

News that Main Street, Wilsden, will be shut to drivers on five successive Sundays from this weekend has been followed by an announcement that Lane Side, which runs from Harden to the village, will also be shut all day on a range of dates.

A Bradford Council spokesman apologised for any inconvenience and asked for residents and drivers to be tolerant while promising works would be delayed to allow early morning traffic to clear.

However Lane Side, the B6144, is an important section of a busy alternative route for commuters heading to Bradford from Keighley and the Worth Valley.

It is also used by heavy goods vehicles delivering to and from local farms and factories and the B6144 becomes Haworth Road as it approaches Wilsden's Ling Bob roundabout.

"Lane Side will be resurfaced on the 7, 8, 10-13, 15, 18 and 19 May," the Bradford Council Highways spokesman said.

"For the majority of the time the road will be closed to carry out the works because it is too narrow.

"Work on the 11-13 May will be done under temporary signals instead of a closure, when it is safe to do so.

"Works will start at 9am to allow people to get to work and school, without delay.

"There will be no restriction on an evening and the road will be open overnight.

"When the road is closed, traffic will be diverted along Old Alan Road and Back Lane."

The spokesman said that while both Main Street in Wilsden and Lane Side, Harden, are programmed to be affected on Sunday, May 10, they will not be closed at the same time.

Wilsden parish councillor Tony Caunt said he was baffled at the sporadic delays and the length of closures.

"I can't really understand why they are taking so many days just to lay tarmac and grit," he said.

"The reason given for the all day closure is that they have to put down the tar and chippings which is then rolled and has to set before vehicles can go over it.

"There will be a lot of delays as the diversions are long ones and along small lanes, not full sized roads and traffic will have to go with carefully," Cllr Caunt said.

"And we get a heck of a lot of traffic that comes from Haworth and Keighley into and then out of Bradford.

"Lane Side is popular with people who think it's quicker than going down the Aire Valley.

"It's one of the reasons Wilsden is so damn busy and this will undoubtedly lead to even more serious congestion," he said.