AN MP has claimed progress on a major road project is being held up due to Bradford Council “dragging its feet”.

Shipley MP Philip Davies said a feasibility study for the Shipley Eastern Bypass was expected to be submitted to the Department for Transport in November 2019.

After raising the issue again, Transport Minister Trudy Harrison told him in a Parliamentary written answer that the Department was waiting for Bradford Council to submit the study, after which it will be assessed.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said it was disappointing it had not yet materialised, despite Bradford Council receiving funding for the study.

“I hope that the local authority will set out their plans to create the long overdue feasibility case as soon as possible,” said Mr Shapps.

Mr Davies added: “Despite promises last April the study was nearly ready, it has still not been submitted. The money has been provided for this study and my constituents will rightly wonder why the Council is dragging its feet and acting so slowly in getting such infrastructure investment going.

“It is clear by their actions the Council does not care about the Shipley constituency and I have no doubt in my mind if this were a city centre scheme it would have been submitted on time.

“It seems to me the only thing between my constituents getting this much needed bypass is the Labour-led administration on Bradford Council.”

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, the Council’s portfolio folder for regeneration, planning and transport, said work on the study, looking at congestion between Shipley and Baildon, has been “ongoing” since the funding was received.

He said: “As Mr Davies knows, it has been delayed by the development of our new Strategic Transport Model and, as with so many other things across all walks of life, the impact of the pandemic.

“We have been in constant contact with the Department for Transport throughout this period so they’re fully aware of where things stand.

“We have submitted proposals looking at this area previously but they failed to get funding as they did not provide sufficient value for money compared to other schemes.

“This new study will provide us with an updated assessment of what may or may not be feasible. A final review of the study is being undertaken to make sure it is as robust as possible.”

Cllr Ross-Shaw said there is much going on in Shipley “thanks to Bradford Council support and investment”.

He pointed to the £1m Shipley Streets for People programme remodelling the market square and the £25m Towns Fund programme, which he said has had “strong financial and staffing support” from the Council throughout.