A RELIEF road for North Yorkshire's biggest comprehensive school may not be built, despite a survey which says it could vastly improve traffic flows at a busy South Craven junction.

Councillors met on Monday to discuss a report which shows more than two thirds of traffic coming to South Craven School would be able to use a new road if one were to be built at the back of the premises.

This would take vehicles away from the junction of Main Street and Holme Lane in Cross Hills, and prevent traffic snarl-ups.

But the report, by North Yorkshire highways experts, said a new road was not viable because it would cost too much and have to be built across school playing fields.

At this week's highways meeting, councillors were told that a survey should be carried out into traffic movements across the whole of South Craven.

And Bradford education chiefs were warned they must build their own schools to cope with the influx of new families from hundreds of homes being planned for nearby Silsden.

The traffic survey was carried out during the summer by pupils at South Craven School, and 953 replies were received.

It showed an estimated 485 cars arriving at the school on a morning, with other pupils arriving by school bus and other forms of public transport.

Around 200 were dropped off at Holme Lane, 218 on Keighley Road and 63 in Cross Hills' Main Street.

'It is estimated that of the 485 pupils and staff arriving by private car, 372 could potentially make use of a new school entrance from Skipton Road, with 113 still using the Holme Lane entrance,' said the report.

However, the report also states that building a new road would cost a lot of money and could ruin the school playing fields.

Instead, the council considered it would be better to encourage more walking, cycling and the use of public transport.

South Craven district councillor Peter Seward said he would like to see a survey of all traffic in South Craven.

'With all the new housing being built around that area there could be another 1,000 pupils going into South Craven School and eventually there will be no traffic infrastructure for the expansion,' he warned.

And County Councillor Mike Doyle believed it would be better to create a footway for children so parents could drop them off at the Skipton Road entrance to the school.

He added: 'I would also urge officers to have words with Bradford Council, who are building lots of houses in Silsden and are currently changing their education system.

'They should provide their own education provision.'

Members voted to seek the views of parish councils in the area and have officers report back at a further meeting.

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