A major traffic scheme to cut rat-running and improve safety in residential areas near the notoriously-congested Saltaire roundabout could take a step forward if backed by Bradford councillors.

The 20mph scheme has been put forward for Nab Wood, Moorhead and Avondale areas of Shipley as part of a wider £3.3 million scheme to turn the roundabout into a signalled junction.

It will include speed bumps along residential streets.

A report to the Council’s strategic director of regeneration to the Shipley Area Committee, to be discussed by Councillors tomorrow night says: “The implementation of traffic calming measures and a 20mph speed limit should deter unwanted through traffic and lead to a reduction in vehicle speeds within the scheme boundary. This will help improve road safety in the Nab Wood, Moorhead and Avondale areas of Shipley.”

The traffic calming measures were developed as part of Bradford Council’s Saltaire Roundabout Improvement project, approved by its executive in January.

A total of £2 million to pay for the traffic scheme has been agreed from the West Yorkshire Strategic Programme of Schemes.

That will also pay for work on 20mph zones in Saltaire, Wycliffe and Hirst Wood, which were agreed by the committee earlier this year.

Questionnaires detailing the Nab Wood, Moorhead and Avondale proposals were sent out to nearly 2,000 homes and businesses and attracted just five objections.

The majority of objections were over the effect of speed bumps on residents’ vehicles.

However, the report states: “The features are built to nationally-agreed standards, which should not cause damage to vehicles using them at appropriate speeds.”

The report urges the committee to agree the proposed scheme to allow work to start. Bradford Councillor Martin Love (Shipley, Green) said: “Assuming the committee goes along with the recommendation, the 20mph zone should be implemented around the turn of the year.”

Shipley Area Committee will make a decision on the plans at the meeting at Bolton Woods Community Centre, Livingstone Road, Bolton Woods, Bradford, tomorrow at 6pm.