Highways chiefs say they have second thoughts over £3,140 controversial refuge

It is being taken away because it is causing a danger at a notorious bottleneck in Shipley.

Bradford Council built the refuge at the bottom of Crag Road, Windhill, last month amid fears over pedestrian safety. But 28 days after it was put in, the Council is reviewing the impact of the island with a view to removing it at a cost of £800.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood said it was making the road even more dangerous. She said: “It is a bottleneck anyway at the junction of Crag Road, Leeds Road and Carr Lane and this is causing cars to back all the way up Crag Road. It is making the queues a lot longer than they were before and it is dangerous.”

Drivers had the choice of using two lanes at the end of Crag Road until the island was put in on January 19. Since then, the island has narrowed the road to one lane resulting in huge queues.

Rat-runners have attempted to skip jams by cutting into the right hand lane and into the path of oncoming vehicles.

Coun Greenwood (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) said police had fined motorists for driving around the island.

“Since the very first minute it was put in, I have had residents contacting me, who are concerned about it,” she said.

“To be fair to the Council’s highways department, they have been very good in agreeing that it has got to come out.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said the island was installed to improve safety because of concerns by residents.

Craig Williams, the Council’s traffic feasibility project engineer, said: “The location is well used by pedestrians but there are problems at peak times when the right turn is obstructed and vehicles are driven on the wrong side of Crag Road. The continued presence of the pedestrian refuge is under review which includes consultation with West Yorkshire Police.”

Mr Williams said the island could be re-used elsewhere. He added: “We expect to take a decision whether or not to remove the prefabricated refuge within the next few days.”