The forecast that property prices in the Aire Valley are likely to soar once the Bingley relief road opens will be encouraging for those who already own houses around Crossflatts and Bingley and have seen the value of them depressed (relatively speaking) by the present congested road conditions.

It is not such good news, though, for the many people who are seeking to "buy in" to the Aire Valley. If the estate agents are right in their predictions, there will be a substantial increase in the financial commitment involved.

Of course any increase in the value of existing homes will also be reflected in the prices developers will be able to ask for new properties. That will inevitably mean greater pressure on the remaining green fields to be turned over to housing. And with each new house will come at least one car.

The planners must bear that in mind when considering applications from developers. While the Bingley relief road will bring great benefits to the town in terms of freeing it of the traffic congestion which has been allowed to choke it for far too long, it will not end the Aire Valley's overall traffic problems. There will still be the bottlenecks of Saltaire and Shipley to contend with.

Until that problem has been dealt with, there surely must be strict limits imposed on the amount of new building allowed in the Aire Valley. The alternative will be even worse traffic delays on the Saltaire side of Cottingley and a further increase in motorists seeking to avoid them by using unsuitable rat-runs.