Public fury over the closure of a road bridge has led to promises by Railtrack and Council bosses to hold an emergency public meeting.

Residents at a packed Bradford Council meeting for Oakenshaw residents last night vented anger at Railtrack and highways bosses for waiting until only a month before the closure of Cleckheaton Road to consult the public.

Traders heard Railtrack would not provide compensation to businesses which would lose passing trade when the bridge crossing a rail line at Raw Nook is closed for 17 days and four subsequent weekends from April 8.

And the meeting heard bus regulators Metro had only been notified of the work earlier this week.

Residents said the closure would cause gridlock as commuters used back roads to avoid the closure.

Railtrack project leader John Meacock said: "We can take the points raised and address them the best we can. I'm prepared to come back but we still want to start work on April 8."

Bradford Council principal engineer John Blackburn said the authority had not yet passed a road-closure order to allow Railtrack to start work but warned that if work did not start on April 8 repairs would be delayed at least 12 months.

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