Enforcement officers are investigating claims that a major Bradford chemical company is flouting planning rules by building a road without permission.

Council planners are looking into complaints about A H Marks, which has apparently begun the new access from its 11-hectare site at Wyke.

The company, which employs about 350 people, is thought to be aiming to link to the A58 Whitehall Road, giving its drivers a direct route to the motorways at the Chain Bar junction.

But the work linking the site with Knowle Lane has caused alarm among some residents.

Chris Wood, whose Elm Cottage adjoins Knowle Lane, said: "Knowle Lane is popular with dog walkers and blackberry pickers. I can't see anyone being safe on foot with extra vehicles on there. We breed horses and I certainly wouldn't be using it for them any longer.

"My big worry is that if they establish a roadway, even if they say it's not for tankers, they would find it easier to get planning permission for other developments in the fields off it.

"We've lived here 25 years and there's been very little problem until now."

Chris Eaton, a senior planning officer with Bradford Council, said enforcement officers were looking into whether A H Marks had planning consent for the work.

"This permission could have been granted as part of a wider application several years ago and therefore we need to investigate thoroughly before taking action," he said.

A H Marks said it was aiming to build a road linking the business to the A58, but denied that one would be created without permission.

Operations manager Ian McClelland said it would be pursuing planning permission once a route had been decided.

He said their proposal was a response to concerns from residents about traffic on Wyke Lane - A H Marks' current access.

"The residents in Wyke Lane have highlighted traffic congestion," he said.

"I am not saying it is because of our vehicles, because there are so many vehicles about these days, but we felt another route would be better all round."

He added: "We don't know what the route will be yet. We have been in conversation with planners for around a year now. We have consulting engineers working on the plans."

Chemicals have been produced at the site since 1877. The company now produces specialised organic chemicals for customers including manufacturers of crop protection, petrochemicals and biocides.

e-mail: jonathan.walton@bradford.newsquest.co.uk