A CAMPAIGN group has urged Bradford Council to halt plans to widen one of the District's busiest roads, saying it will lead to "more traffic and more harmful emissions."

The Bradford Shipley Travel Alliance believes the work to the Canal Road corridor between Shipley and Bradford will encourage more people to drive on the route at a time when Councils needed to promote active travel schemes and public transport.

First proposed in 2018, the plans will see Canal Road and Valley Road widened to two lanes in each direction, with work to make Manningham Lane more “sustainable” - with improved bus lanes as well as cycle and walking routes.

The plans to widen Canal Road have been criticised by several environmental groups, and over the years there have been numerous calls to scrap the plans.

BSTA says a recent report on climate change only makes the groups call for this road scheme to be scrapped more relevant, and is calling for alternative plans to go out to consultation.

Ludi Simpson, BSTA Secretary said: “The road scheme will simply result in more traffic, more congestion and more harmful emissions. It flies in the face of the latest science and government policy”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently delivered an emergency plea for action to reduce emissions. The IPCC say that it might be possible to avoid the worst ravages of climate breakdown, but only with a “now or never dash to a low carbon economy and society”.

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Following on from the report, government Transport Minister, Grant Shapps, wrote to the West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin, on government funding for road schemes.

He stated that: “Schemes should promote the use of active travel and public transport; not lead to overall increases in car use or car modal share; tackle traffic congestion; and improve air quality.” BSTA has asking Bradford’s political leaders of all parties "to give a clear pledge that the Canal Road scheme will not go ahead unless it delivers the positive changes demanded by the IPCC and the transport minister."

West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the body responsible for funding numerous infrastructure schemes in the region, is in the process of reviewing a number of traffic schemes to see if they meet environmental standards.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Executive Member for Regeneration, Planning and Transport on Bradford Council, said: “Anyone who travels regularly on Canal Road knows all too well that sticking with the status quo is not an option.

"We need to cut congestion and people need to be able to get about more quickly and safely in a more pleasant environment.

"We will continue to listen to the different views of all local people as we move forward in developing the best possible plans for the route. We have always been committed to further consultation on our plans for the Shipley and Canal Road corridor and have made this clear many times.”