Residents protesting at plans to put a new high-occupancy vehicle and bus lane on one of the city’s busiest commuter routes say they will block any work that goes ahead.

If a decision is made to go ahead with the lane, intended to improve traffic flow, then people living in Westgate Hill, Bradford, and nearby estates are threatening to hold a mass sit-down protest.

The new lane will be considered by the Bradford South Area Committee at the end of this month.

Andy Westerman, one of the campaigners who represents Mossdale Community Group, hopes the Council’s transportation and highways services and transport consultants Arup and Metro will heed local people’s views.

“People are not happy with what is being proposed,” he said. “We will do whatever it takes to stop it.”

Consultations with residents and businesses along Wakefield Road and Westgate Hill started last year. The proposals include a quarter-of-a-mile section that goes under the bridge at Dudley Hill roundabout in the direction of the city centre, and another section, about 600 metres long, on the opposite carriageway from Thorndene Way extending up to Tong School.

It is planned that the restrictions would come into force from 7am to 10am and 4pm to 7pm. Only buses and vehicles carrying two or more people will be allowed to use the sections of road in a bid to improve traffic flow.

But residents say it is Tong Street where the real problem is and the other improvements should be carried out later.

Chris Bedford, principal engineer for Bradford Council, said: “We understand residents’ frustrations with the congestion in Tong Street and are taking their concerns and comments on board when we meet with Metro and their consultants later this week to look again at these proposals. However, the funding we were allocated in 2010/11 from the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan is insufficient to deal with Tong Street as this requires significant infrastructure work.

“Given the available resources, we need to look at low-cost schemes like the high-occupancy lane to alleviate congestion on Westgate Hill Street and Wakefield Road by providing priority for people who car-share or use the bus.”