VIDEO: 'Road can't cope with extra traffic' (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

VIDEO: 'Road can't cope with extra traffic'

Campaigners fighting proposals for a huge housing development predicted it would cause “horrendous” traffic problems after a vehicle survey yesterday.

From the left, campaigners Andy Smith, Terry Brown and Pauline Wood survey vehicles at the swing bridge

Developers Bellway and Redrow are looking to build hundreds of homes on green fields in Greenhill and Sty Lane, near the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Micklethwaite.

The Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which is strongly opposing building on the land, says there is already congestion in the area and problems with access over the canal swing bridge. They claim it will only worsen if the development gets the green light.

GAG chairman Terry Brown said in one ten-minute period during rush hour, 102 vehicles crossed the single-track bridge – an average of one every six seconds.

He said: “There are only 200 houses up in Micklethwaite and the developers are talking about building nearly 600 houses. It is horrendous just thinking about it.”

A planning application has been submitted by Bellway and Redrow but a spokesman for Bradford Council said it was “invalid” and needed to include more information before it would be considered.

Developers are understood to be preparing another, more detailed, application.

In the meantime, GAG is set to start a leafleting campaign in the area to raise money for a “fighting fund”.

The Greenhill site was reprieved from development five years ago when a Government inspector ruled there should be a moratorium on house building. That expired this year.

Bradford Council’s major development manager, John Eyles, said: “An outline planning application for the Sty Lane site in Micklethwaite has been submitted to Bradford Council.

“The application is currently invalid and needs further information to be submitted to the Council.

“Once the information is submitted the Council will carry out a full consultation with the public before the application is formally considered.”