A major public consultation is planned for ideas for a Bingley town centre renaissance, now the contract has been signed for the long-awaited relief road.

Traders and the public will be invited to submit ideas for the development of the town centre at workshops arranged by Shipley Community Area Panel.

Suggestions include promoting the town as a tourist attraction, with an integrated transport system and carefully-designed car parking scheme to attract more shoppers.

The floodgates for change were opened when the Highways Agency announced that Amec Capital Projects had secured the £47.9 million tender to build the relief road which will bypass Main Street.

Businesses don't want potential customers passing by on the new road, so Bradford Council is co-ordinating a consultation in June to outline potential improvements.

Town Centre Manager David Dinsey said: "We want to give people who live, work shop and enjoy leisure here chance to have their say about the options and priorities for Main Street early in the design and planning process."

People who are unable to attend in June will be able to complete a questionnaire.

Businessman Andrew Burke, who owns Andrew's Electrical in Bingley, called on organisers to include the Myrtle Walk precinct as part of any regeneration package.

Mr Burke said: "We are at a crossroads and need to start making decisions now or we'll regret it for years to come.

"It can become a thriving market town if some simple steps are followed. There should be more car parking on the main road because, if people drive through and there are no cars parked, it looks like a ghost town and they won't stop."

Norman Roper, chairman of Bingley Civic Trust said: "What was going to happen to Bingley in terms of development has been held up because people were waiting for the road to be completed. The nearer we get to completion of the road, the less excuses people have for not getting on with it.

"There will be changes in Main Street parking, which will bring people back to shop. It will have a new lease of life."

Andrew Robertshaw, chairman of the Bingley Town Centre Partnership who runs a motorbike clothing and accessory shop in Main Street, said the consultation should be a co-ordinated effort between traders and public.

"We want to make Bingley an attractive destination for people. There are some really nice walks around here to make it a hub of tourism where people can come and make purchases before and after their trip."