Road-safety campaigners have won a 15-month battle for safety measures at an accident blackspot.

Haworth Road Safety Action Group has been demanding the junction of Hebden Road and Brow Top Road is made safer. And highway bosses at Bradford council have finally agreed to a £40,000 alteration to the junction.

The announcement was made after a recent meeting between council officials and members of the action group.

The case for safety measures has been highlighted by four accidents at the junction. They have all happened since the re-opening of Hebden Road on March 6 following long-term roadworks as the hillside was strengthened between Haworth and Oxenhope. Two of the accidents occurred on Monday evening and Tuesday morning, although no one was hurt.

Residents are now to be consulted about the safety plans before they are submitted to the council's transportation, planning and design committee. Rose Greenwell, chairman of the road safety group, says: "We are glad that common sense has prevailed in the end and that these much needed measures will be implemented. We hope the council can get the safety measures in place before someone is hurt."

Cllr Latif Darr, chairman of Bradford council's transportation, planning and design committee, says there are various plans on the drawing board. "One of the traffic-calming measures suggested is to put an island on one side of the road so that traffic from one side has to give way," she says. "It is a physical barrier which slows down the traffic. It is something that works well, which is obviously what is needed on Hebden Road."

He says the traffic islands would be placed on Hebden Road on either side of the junction.

Other options include improving visibility at the junction and the introduction of a one-way system on Brow Road. Improvements to street lighting in the area may also be included.

Cllr Darr adds: "If the schemes are acceptable to the people they will be put before the highways sub-committee."

Worth Valley councillor Mike Young - who officially opened Hebden Road in March - also welcomes the news. He says: "I'm glad priority has been given to getting on with this work. It will be of great benefit. Local people must be consulted. Some people might object but we hope to get on with the work in this financial year."

The action group launched its campaign after Bradford council started construction work on the £6 million project to halt subsidence along the 1km stretch of the A6033 between Haworth and Oxenhope. Campaigners wanted the council to implement the road safety measures in tandem with the work on the road.

Opinion, page 10

They also vented their frustration during the official opening of the road on March 6 with 60 banner waving protestors attempting to stop the cutting of the ribbon.

As a result of their protests, Cllr Darr agreed to meet with members at the home of Mrs Greenwell to discuss a possible solution.

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