Through-traffic could be banned from the Showfield area of Keighley to stop drivers using the narrow streets as a rat-run.

'Access only' rules are just one suggestion being looked at by Bradford council road experts to solve problems of speeding.

Residents of the Cark Road area, which lies on the opposite side of Skipton Road from Cliffe Castle, have demanded action to protect their children. They claim traffic calming is needed to deter drivers using streets such as East Avenue, Sefton Road and Holker Street to avoid congestion on Skipton Road.

The householders are also angry about young drivers who live in Showfield and speed along the streets near their homes.

Keighley Area Panel, which is made up of local Bradford councillors, discussed a petition signed by 42 Showfield residents.

The petitioners warn that 'temperatures are boiling' due to the mix of high speeds, parked cars and small children frequently crossing the roads to visit relatives. They write: "We request you to solve this problem in order to avoid an accident and street conflict, which would lead to community fighting involving big clans."

The residents' views were outlined to the forum by Khadim Hussain and Ghulam Rabani, from the Sangat Community Centre.

Mr Hussain said: "There have been near misses. Minor accidents are not reported because people know the drivers and the parents."

Council roads bosses say they cannot spend money on traffic calming because speeds are not excessive and there have not been enough accidents.

The area panel, which has its own roads budget, agreed to add Cark Road and Sefton Place to its list of traffic calming requests. Members asked traffic engineers to look at other options to improve safety, such as blocking off streets or imposing 'access only' restrictions.

The council cannot impose a 20mph zone in the area, similar to the one in Showfield, without first providing traffic calming.

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