A crunch meeting between councillors and heritage chiefs may decide the future of a major artery for motorists in the Aire Valley.

Restrictions have been in place across Ireland Bridge in Bingley for at least six months - causing major headaches for road-users.

Plans have been drawn up by architects and Bradford Council for strengthening the grade II-listed structure by increasing the depth of the road surface by ten inches.

However, English Heritage has objected to the plans, because it would mean raising the parapets of the historic bridge, altering its character.

Concerns have also been raised about what to do with a series of 132,000-volt cables owned by the National Grid, which run through the bridge.

Councillor David Heseltine (Con, Bingley), said it was impossible to draw up a timescale for work to start on Ireland Bridge, without first getting the consent of English Heritage about what alterations could be made. A meeting between Councillor Heseltine, his fellow Councillor, Margaret Eaton (Con, Bingley Rural) and English Heritage bosses has been planned for later this month.

However, Councillor Heseltine said that whatever scheme is agreed will probably mean the bridge being completely closed and would start in the summer at the earliest, when the volume of traffic is at its lightest.

That will mean more months of misery for motorists and tailbacks through Bingley and the surrounding area.

Councillor Heseltine said: "The meeting is to see where we can get with the ideas we have and if we can move this forward.

"English Heritage didn't like the first idea we had, and we may have to look at different funding.

"Ideally, we would like English Heritage to say that we can go ahead with the original strengthening plan but, if it has to be something more exotic, it starts adding quite considerable expense."

He added: "I think the one-way movement will be there for some time. It depends on English Heritage and what they let us do as to whether we can come up with a solution quickly. But even then, it would still be the summer holidays before something happens."