People living in a village split by a major crossroads are closer to getting a new multi-million-pound traffic scheme.

Greengates residents have campaigned for years for improvements at the junction at the heart of their community. Now Bradford North Area Committee has rubber-stamped a plan to give them what they want.

The go-ahead comes after Bradford Council gave

villagers three options to choose from.

The most favoured was one which would take southbound traffic onto a new link road at the north-east corner of the junction with some empty shops owned by the Council having to be demolished to make way.

A cycle route will be included in the design and so will pedestrian crossings. Some residents had claimed they had to catch buses because they were too afraid to cross the road at the junction which stands between Harrogate Road, New Line and Apperley Lane.

More good news for the village is that its cenotaph will not have to be moved although it will lose a small part of its garden.

Ward councillor Ann Ozolins (Idle, Lib Dem) was delighted the scheme would be on its way to the Council's executive committee for approval and then be

forwarded to the Government for funding.

"It could cost around £3 million but the changes it will make will be worth every penny," she said.

Pensioner Elsie Hall, who lives at Kipling Court, said: "We'll all be relieved when we finally get it.

"Cars go through red lights hooting horns and drivers get frustrated which makes it more dangerous for people wanting to cross."

John Morris, who is 84 and uses an electric scooter, said: "Hopefully the new scheme will make the traffic flow better although I think they could improve it just by taking off the corner that sticks out next to the Roebuck pub."

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "It has to be approved by the Council's Executive first so it can be included in the local trans-port plan to go to the Government in July."