Residents and traders will decide on Monday when to close a main route into Bradford so a bridge can be replaced.

Bradford Council is urging Low Moor and Oakenshaw residents to attend a last-minute Neighbourhood Forum meeting to discuss whether work to replace a corroded road bridge in Cleckheaton Road, Oakenshaw, can start next Saturday.

Members of the Council's Executive Committee were expected to refuse Railtrack's repair plan ruling the public had not been properly consulted.

But Executive member for Transport and Planning Councillor Latif Darr said Railtrack had since worked hard to address points raised by people who attended two forum meetings held about the matter last month.

He said: "The decision will be made at the meeting so it's important anyone with a viewpoint goes on Monday.

"If people decide there are advantages to delaying the work the Council is duty-bound to uphold that."

Residents and traders were outraged with the Council and Railtrack for not warning them of the plans earlier.

A Ciba Speciality Chemicals plant worker revealed to shopkeepers in February the road would be closed for 17 days and four subsequent weekends.

The bridge, which carries traffic over the Bradford to Halifax rail line, is corroded and has a maximum life of five years.

Railtrack says it can only do the work this month or in Easter 2002.

Since last month's public meetings traffic diversions have been devised, taxis arranged to take pedestrians around the bridge and an agreement made that noisy work will only be done during the day.

Bakery owner Paul Bostock, who says the closure will take away 80 per cent of his trade, said he would be voting for the work to be delayed.

He said: "I would prefer it to be in two years so I can prepare, it will hit me hard."

Councillor Danny Mangham (Wyke, Lab) said: "The whole thing has been a mess from start to finish but Railtrack has agreed to do a lot of what people asked for.

"I don't think if we waited for two years things would be any different from what we're being offered now."

The meeting at Aldersgate Methodist Church in Common Road will start at 7.30pm.

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