Major improvements to roads and public transport in South Bradford could start later this year.

The £20 million South Bradford Integrated Transport Scheme is being promoted by Bradford Council and is Government funded.

The scheme includes:

l Improvements to the Manchester Road/Mayo Avenue junction involving the replacement of the roundabout with a traffic light controlled junction;

l The construction of a northbound link between the M606 and Rooley Lane;

l A Park and Ride Scheme linking Odsal and the city centre via Manchester Road.

Later this week, leaflets describing the plans will be sent to 7,000 households in the areas surrounding the schemes. Posters will also be delivered to around 80 local community centres, supermarkets and church halls.

The public will be able to give their view at four special Neighbourhood Forums where they can also discuss the plans with council officers and look at diagrams of the proposed schemes.

The forums will be on:

l July 11, 7.30pm, at West Bowling Training and Advice Centre, Clipstone Street;

l July 16, 10am, at West Bowling People's Partnership, Parkside Road (women only forum);

l July 16, 7.30pm, The Pavilion Bar, Odsal Stadium;

l July 17, 7.30pm, at Marshfields Primary School, Thornton Lane in Little Horton.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment said: "The scheme is vitally important to the regeneration of the South Bradford area and would bring benefits to road users, pedestrians and businesses. I would urge people to study the plans in more detail and give the Council their feedback. Modern transport systems including better motorway links are important to Bradford."

The Council is applying for planning permissions and hopes to acquire all the necessary land to enable the work to start later this year. It will also need to introduce traffic orders.

The first phase of the scheme is expected to be the junction improvements at Manchester Road/Mayo Avenue, which would include the closure of three subways and the construction of new pedestrian crossings. The Staygate Scheme would provide the missing northbound section to the M606 motorway under the roundabout bridges.

For more information or large print, Braille or audio tape versions of the information leaflet people can contact (01274) 437621. Further information is also available on the Council's website at: www.bradford.gov.uk/southbradford.