Bradford Council is calling for an urgent meeting with the Secretary of State for Transport to find a long-term solution to congestion in the Aire Valley.

Senior councillors want to arrange a meeting with Douglas Alexander and say only then will they make a decision on taking over control of the busy A650.

Councillor Anne Hawkes-worth, the executive member for the environment, took legal advice earlier in the week over a dispute with the Highways Agency.

The Agency wants the Council to take control of the A650 from Steeton to Frizinghall. But the Council says it will not do so unless enough cash is available to tackle the congestion caused by the extra traffic generated by the Bingley relief road.

And, at yesterday's decision-making executive, it was agreed to call on Mr Alexander because no regional funding had been allocated to the problem for the next ten years.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "We are going down to the Secretary of State and will make it clear it's not just our problem. It's a regional route and congestion means it is holding back the economy.

"The Highways Agency is anxious to proceed with the de-trunking."

The Highways Agency has offered the Council £800,000 to take over when the A650 - one of the district's major transport headaches - is de-trunked.

But the cash is considered a "drop in the ocean" and the Council fears it could be left with a multi-million-pound bill to tackle congestion.

A study into Shipley, Saltaire and Baildon's traffic problems by the Highways Agency has come up with three possible plans for the choked-up Saltaire roundabout. But only one - which is the most dramatic - is likely to ease congestion.

It involves adding traffic lights, closing two access roads into Saltaire village and closing access to Moorhead Lane except for buses. The cost of this plan is expected to reach £565,000 including a traffic flow study and public consultation.

The executive also agreed that transport, design and planning director Alan Mainwaring is to look again at previous ideas to identify a preferred option. Some past plans include a gyratory or short tunnel at Saltaire.

Then Coun Hawkesworth and Mr Mainwaring will jointly decide whether to withdraw the Council's objection to de-trunking or not.

Mr Mainwaring is to develop the route for a Shipley Eastern Link Road and improvements to Canal Road in line with the relevant masterplans.

e-mail: jo.winrow@bradford.newsquest.co.uk