REDUCING parking spaces on a stretch of Darley Street to make it a "more pedestrian friendly environment" is one of several Bradford schemes that could benefit from a £3 million funding bid.

The next wave of "Active Travel" funding from Government could also see new pathways created in the Chellow Dene Valley, the creation of better walking and cycling routes around Bradford schools and St Luke's Hospital, and a new path from Buck Lane Bridge in Baildon to Esholt Lane.

Active Travel funding was first announced by Government in May 2020, and allowed Councils across the country to set up temporary schemes to make it easier for people to walk and cycle during the first Covid lockdown.

The fund has continued, with subsequent "tranches" set up to develop more permanent schemes.

West Yorkshire Combined Authority recently revealed its plans for the third tranch of Active Travel Schemes which, if all the funding is allocated by Government, will amount to over £12m.

Of this, around £3m will be allocated to specifically to schemes in Bradford.

Second round of 'active travel' funding could see new cycle routes and roads closed to cars

These will include:

The creation of 0.6 miles of new off-road cycleway on the Leeds Liverpool Canal between Silsden and Kildwick (£650,000)

Three new "low traffic" neighbourhoods in Bradford, details of which have yet to be revealed (£525,000)

Better cycling and pedestrian access to Bradford schools and hospitals, which will include 0.6 miles of new permanent footway, 0.3 miles of widened existing footway and 1.9 miles of upgrades to existing facilities (£841,300)

Improvements to the Buck Lane Bridleway between Buck Lane Bridge and Esholt lane, including 0.5 miles of new permanent footway, 0.5 miles of upgrades to existing facilities and 0.5 miles of upgraded bridleway

Chellow Dean Valley access improvements to link residential areas to open countryside. The scheme will include 0.7 miles of new off-road cycleway and 0.7 miles new permanent footway (£190,000)

Work to "enhance the length of Darley Street from Godwin Street to North Parade to create a more pedestrian and cyclist friendly environment." It will include the removal of 15 parking spaces, a short on-road segregated cycleway 0.3 miles of widened pavements and traffic calming measures (£600,000).

There will also be a number of West Yorkshire wide schemes that include Bradford. These will see the creation of 2,500 cycle parking spaces (£500,000) and the development of new "school streets" - which are closed to traffic during school drop off and pick up times (£350,000).

Elsewhere the scheme will provide £4.78m funding to create three miles of permanent segregated cycleway on the A660 Otley Road in Leeds between Clarendon Road to Grove Lane.

A Government decision on the funding is expected imminently.

A Bradford Council spokesman said more details of the proposals would be provided if the funding bid is successful.