DEVELOPERS of a new £29 million Cycle Superhighway between Bradford and Leeds have agreed to re-visit their plans after continued complaints by some people living and working on its route.

Residents and businesses along the Thornbury to Stanningley section of the 14-mile CityConnect scheme have expressed concerns over safety and parking.

These worries have now been raised at a meeting between The Conservative MP for Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough Stuart Andrew, Leeds City councillors Andrew Carter and Rod Wood (Con, Calverley and Farsley), Gary Bartlett, the chief officer of highways and transportation at Leeds City Council, and CityConnect developers, in a bid to appease local opposition to the project.

The proposals, submitted by Bradford Council, Leeds City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, include largely segregated cycle provision which will see the route take over part of the carriageway in areas such as Bradford Road in Thornbury.

Mr Andrew said each section of the cycle plan had now been reviewed to address issues such as parking requirements, speed limit restrictions, and other safety concerns.

“We want to do more for cyclists in Leeds and Bradford, and if this proposal will ease congestion along this route then that is welcome," he said.

"But we must address the issues that matter to people who live and work along Bradford Road, and ensure that this project does not press ahead without all the effects being considered.

"This meeting was a great opportunity to raise the concerns of constituents and present them to the team responsible to get the commitment they will look at their plans again."

Cllr Carter, also the leader of the Conservative group on Leeds City Council, had previously accused developers of taking a "cavalier attitude" to residents and businesses questioning the scheme.

"I hope there has been progress made, as we made it very clear that there needs to be," he said.

"We have continually stressed that we are not anti-cycling, but some elements of this scheme have been ill-conceived to say the least.

"It has been an uphill struggle to have some of these issues taken seriously, but they must be, as they affect people's safety and put the future of local businesses at stake."

Michael Blackburn, who has lived on Womersley Place, just off Bradford Road, for the past 30 years, was one of the residents to express his concerns.

"The meeting sounds like good news, although we need to see what these possible changes are.

"Reducing the speed limit would help the parking and safety issues, so I'm pleased that was one of the things discussed."

Ginny Leonard, communications and engagement project manager for CityConnect, said the scheme had received an "unprecedented level of support", adding the team was working hard to resolve issues raised by a "minority" of residents and businesses.

"We are looking at some specific parts of the superhighway design between Thornbury gyratory and Bramley Town Street," she said.

"CityConnect is still committed to working with local businesses and residents along the route to accommodate their parking requirements, and we remain confident the proposed designs are safe.

"Continual communication with councillors and the communities they represent is inherent in all our promotion, delivery and operation, and such dialogue and engagement will certainly be ongoing."