A street on a new housing development in Thornton could be set to bear the name of a late Bradford councillor who received an honour from the Pope for services to the church.

More than 60 homes are being built on land at Allerton Lane and Old Road by Persimmon Homes. Two new street names have already been allocated for the development, Allerton View and The Pastures.

But now two Conservative councillors in the ward have called for John Buffham, who was born in the village and represented the ward for nearly ten years, to be remembered. They want to see The Pastures renamed Buffham Pastures in his memory.

The dedication has been proposed by Councillor Valerie Binney, who currently represents Thornton and Allerton, in recognition of Mr Buffham’s dedication to the area.

Coun Binney is asking members of Bradford West Area Committee to approve the name change.

She says that Mr Buffham was born in West Lane, Thornton, and that he worshipped at Sacred Heart Church, Old Road, Thornton, and received a Benemerenti Award from the Pope in recognition of his service to the church.

He was also a member of the Catholic Players for 50 years and performed in hundreds of shows, holding offices such as president and chairman of the society.

She said: “I believe it would be very fitting and a great honour to a great gentleman to name one of the new streets Buffham Pastures as the new houses are to be built on the former site of the Sacred Heart Church where John spent a very large part of his life in service to others.”

The late, former councillor was born in 1926, and went on to represent the Conservatives in Thornton from 1991 to 1995 and then from 1999 to 2004.

He sat on various Council committees and panels and was both chairman and deputy chairman of the corporate parenting panel, as well as deputy chairman of the regulatory committee.

He also sat on various outside bodies, including the West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority and North Regional Association for the Deaf.

In addition he was chairman of the Thornton branch of the Royal British Legion. Members of the committee are being asked to approve the change when it meets on Wednesday, February 20, at 6pm in City Hall, Bradford.

In December, Persimmon confirmed that work was under way at the site which will see 64 three and four-bed homes built in a development to be called Sunningdale Park.