Residents at Thornbury have won a real victory for people power over the future of one of the biggest roundabouts in the district.

Thornbury Village Residents' Association got together a 667-name petition to Bradford Council to see off a plan to build a £3.5 million factory on the roundabout, which is circled by traffic flowing between Leeds and Bradford. Now they have every right to celebrate the announcement of a £120,000 scheme to improve the roundabout and the facilities on it.

Thornbury roundabout is clearly a prized open space on one of the busiest road links in this area. Now it will remain green, and in addition will be planted with shrubs and bulbs and have new seating and litter bins installed.

But therein lies a problem. The improvements will definitely enhance the approach to the city from Leeds if they are tastefully carried out and the facilities will potentially be a real asset to local residents and children.

However, in one respect the roundabout will continue to be as it is now - surrounded by fast-moving high volumes of traffic which can only get worse as plans to improve the road links between Bradford and Leeds progress in the years to come.

So a prime concern has to be the safety of children and adults, particularly the elderly, as they attempt to cross the road to enjoy the delights the roundabout has to offer. It remains to be seen how the Council will solve that dilemma without creating huge traffic problems through any controls introduced to guarantee the safety of pedestrians.