VILLAGERS who feared their rural lane would be turned into a 'motorway' by strong street lighting have breathed a sigh of relief.

Residents of Moor Lane, in Burley-in-Wharfedale, complained that street lighting, proposed as part of a traffic calming scheme, was inappropriate.

They feared that far from calming speeding traffic, such lighting would be a signal for drivers to put their foot down through their community.

They also feared they would need thick curtains to block out light pollution.

But the recommendation has now been amended to lighting more fitting to a subsidiary road.

The street lamps will no longer be so high and the proposed wattage has been reduced from 100 to 75.

Committee members of Burley Community Council, which had lodged an objection, said they were delighted.

Bruce Speed, vice-chairman of the council and Moor Lane resident, said: "It was worth us as a community council and the residents of Moor Lane

registering an objection and asking the authorities to look at their proposals.

"They have now reached a compromise and it seems a sensible one."

Tony Webster, a resident of Moor Lane, said: "The compromise is probably the best thing that could happen. We were not going to get what we really wanted.

"Bradford Council has been reasonable and I think the compromise will satisfy everybody."

The traffic calming scheme will be carried out as part of the redevelopment of former mental hospital Scalebor Park.

At the time of going to press, no-one was available for comment from Bradford District Council.