Bradford's Lord Mayor is to get a street named after him - and the Council is looking for other community VIPs to be honoured under a new scheme.

A new access road to the Aldi supermarket of Briggate at Shipley, it to be named "Tony Miller Approach" as a tribute to the Lord Mayor who has been a councillor since 1982.

The new name will go for approval at the Highways sub committee next Thursday and has been proposed by chairman Councillor Phillip Thonrton (Lab Shipley East), who said that the whole procedure of street naming was about to change.

But the moves have been slammed by opposition councillors who have branded the plan as "nonsense".

Speaking about the new plans, Coun Thornton said: "In the past, naming streets after people has tended to happen when they've died. But what good is it paying them this honour when they're gone and they're not there to see it?

"Now we're opening the doors and asking people to come up with other prominent members of the community, not just councillors, who they'd like to see new streets named after."

Councillor Thornton said the location of "Tony Miller Approach" was significant because Councillor Miller had played a lead role in helping regenerate Shipley town centre.

But Margaret Eaton, leader of the Conservative group and Bingley Rural councillor, said: "I don't know what the man is thinking of.

"It is hardly appropriate for someone who is alive and kicking and I am absolutely amazed.

"It does seem to entail sucking up to people and would be open to political manipulation. Also it is not the English way of handing out accolades."

Coun Jeanette Sunderland, leader of Bradford's Lib Dems, added: "I would prefer signs to have a local connection or some sort of reference to the local area."

However, the Lord Mayor said: "I feel totally overwhelmed by the gesture, very privileged and pretty humbled that people want to do this. I feel very proud and privileged, as do my family, and its location is irrelevant."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.