Demands are being made to give pedestrians and cyclists a safer passage across a busy road before someone is killed.

Councillors and a local resident say people are taking their lives into their hands when they cross the Aire Valley Trunk Road at Silsden and it won't be long before someone is killed.

When Caroline Goulden moved to Silsden she was pleased to see the town had its own railway station. She end-eavoured to be a good citizen and decided to take the train to and from work every day.

But now she has reverted to her car because she says she is too frightened to cross the trunk road at the Silsden and Steeton roundabout.

Mrs Goulden, of Monkmans Wharf, says before the dual carriageway was constructed access to Silsden and Steeton railway station for pedestrians was safe. But now she says it is no longer safe.

"Does it take a fatality before something is done?" she asks. "There is not even a sign to warn drivers that there may be pedestrians crossing. It is not the way to encourage people to use public transport.

"No thought was given to the residents of Silsden when this road was constructed and it is time this dangerous situation is altered before there is a fatal accident at this junction."

Mrs Goulden, an office manager for a Skipton-based exhibitions organiser, feels that an underpass or overpass should be built. "The people of Silsden would then once again regain their rightful safe passage to their railway station," she says.

Her calls have been backed by Eric Dawson, who represents Silsden and Steeton on Bradford council. "You take your life into your hands when you cross that road," he says. "If the authorities had any respect for pedestrians then it would be considering providing something."

Silsden parish councillor and road safety committee chairman Lawrence Walton also says something needs to be done. "A footbridge similar to the one that crosses the A650 at Nab Wood in Shipley would be ideal," he believes.

Bradford council has carried out a study on behalf of the Highways Agency, which is responsible for the road. that looked into what could be done to help pedestrians and cyclists across the trunk road from Silsden to the railway station.

A Highways Agency spokes-man says the study was carried out as a response to concerns raised by residents. "We are looking into the problems," he says. "We are looking at what we can do to improve things at the roundabout." He says recommendations range from a new footbridge to improving facilities at ground level. "

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