Trees which grace Saltaire’s historic Victoria Road could be axed as part of a £700,000 facelift to be unveiled at the end of the week.

Bradford Council has stumped up cash to tackle various issues along the famous avenue which leads up from Salts Mill – primarily to make it more disability-friendly.

And residents and businesses in Saltaire are being asked to decide the best way to spend the one-off sum for improvements to footways and public areas.

A Council spokesman said: “Over the years Victoria Road has begun to suffer from various problems with damaged pavements, overgrown trees, patchy repairs to the footpath and uneven surfaces for wheelchair users and other people with mobility difficulties.

“Officers have carried out historical research and an independent tree survey has been carried out. No changes will be made until residents and any other interested parties, including business have been consulted.”

Green Party councillor for Shipley Martin Love said one idea was to remove every single tree. “There is a suggestion to revert to how it was up until the 1950s when there were no trees at all.

“A variety of woodland trees, such as horse chestnut, were planted and the reality is that at a certain size they are not appropriate to a street setting.”

“Roots and branches are affecting the almshouses and there will also be proposals to replace them with more suitable trees.

Vanessa Pilny, chair of Saltaire Village Society said she welcomed the scheme.

And Chairman of Saltaire Traders’ Association David Ford said his members would want better signposts to guide visitors to shopping areas.

Two drop-in information events have been organised, at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, on Friday April 4, from 2pm to 7pm, and at Saltaire Methodist Church, on Saturday, April 5, from 10am to 2pm.