A LOCAL resident is calling on Bradford Council to reopen a road in the Heaton area of Bradford.

The road, Shay Lane, was shut in October 2020 as part of the Active Travel programme and the council's response to Covid-19 by getting people out walking and cycling.

At the time, the council said the road would temporarily closed for an initial period of six months, but now the order will be reviewed in April 2022 and a permanent closure will be "considered".

Heaton resident Adnan Arwen is calling on Bradford Council to reopen it.

"It's still closed and it was only due to be shut for six months," said Mr Arwen.

"You can't just close a road for the sake it and a road shouldn't be shut because of an airborne disease.

"You shouldn't cut people off in an area just to help people to walk.

"I've lived in this area for 40 years and I've used that stretch of road in all that time.

"It's a unique part of Bradford to drive through because it's a wooded area. It's a shame people can't see that now.

Mr Arwen, who lives on Stoney Ridge Road about 500 yards from the top of Shay Lane, has a business located at the bottom of Shay Lane.

"Before it was closed, when I went to work it used to take me five minutes driving through Shay Lane. Now it takes me 30 minutes.

"It's a massive difference in travel time. The road closure also causes so much more traffic around the area.

"It's ridiculous adding to your journey time when you don't need to.

"People talked about it being used as a rat run, but it's a road and people should be able to use it."

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “The temporary closure of Shay Lane is part of the council’s response to Covid-19.

“It made walking and cycling safer and easier and has generally proved popular with local residents, who have also seen a reduction in fly-tipping along the route. Such measures improve health and wellbeing, air quality and reduce the wider climate impacts.

“We will review the order used to close this road before the end of April 2022. This will consider making the closure permanent and local views, including those from ward councillors, will be taken into consideration. We will also include representations made during a consolation run during the first six months of the road closure.”