The saga of finding a solution to prevent traffic snarling-up the roads in and around Keighley has got more twists and turns in it than any spaghetti junction.

Countless hours and relatively huge sums of money have been spent over the last half century and more in a bid to create a sustainable network.

The files at this newspaper are laden with suggestions, plans and surveys going back to the 1950s.

As work goes ahead on the latest moves to improve three town centre traffic-jam hotspots there's a feeling of dj vu. Why? Keighley Area Committee chairman Councillor Andrew Mallinson, who is also chairman of the Keighley Transport Forum, believes the final solution will have to be a bypass -- but accepts there will be difficulties finding a suitable route.

Rewind to the 1950s when the dreams of a relief road were first raised. Keep going to April 1995, when highways experts were asked by Bradford Council to look into the suggestions again.

In October 1990 approval was given by councillors to spend £16,700 on a major traffic study in Keighley. It involved roadside interviews, traffic counts and registration plate surveys.

Fast forward to January 2006. A request has been made to the Airedale Partnership for £50,000 for a thorough traffic survey of the whole Keighley area. Cllr Mallinson says they know the numbers of vehicles, but now need to know where they are coming from and where they are going to.

If Keighley and district is to achieve and hit targets outlined in the vision for Airedale a lasting solution must be found this time. With the commitment and spirit of determination which now exists in the area, the final chapter in the saga should be written. It will not be easy and there will be many bruising encounters on the journey -- but it has to be done.

What is for certain is that the individual or group which finally finds the "golden fleece" is guaranteed a place in the hall of fame of Keighley's greats.