A DISPUTE over repairs to a collapsed wall in Shipley has caused more than two months of traffic chaos due to a lane closure on a busy stretch of Otley Road.

The stone-built perimeter to the Crossley Evans metal recycling site on the approach to the junction with Valley Road tumbled down in late January.

And motorists have been left fuming in traffic for week after week as tenants Crossley Evans Ltd and landowner Network Rail struggle to decide who is responsible for repairing the elderly wall.

Retired dental technician Ron Archer, from Baildon, summed up the feelings of frustrated drivers who have bombarded local councillors with calls about the stone safety barriers blocking off a vital lane before the Valley Road traffic lights.

"It's just a ridiculous situation," Mr Archer said.

"This has doubled my journey times into Bradford and frankly my wife and I don't bother to drive in now.

"She will catch the train at Baildon and that usually means she takes the first one and goes into Leeds to do shopping.

"That's what people don't realise, a problem like this can really cost Bradford businesses a lot of money.

"For me, as a Bantams fan of 50 years, it's made things difficult because the traffic on Otley Road is so bad sometimes that I've had to turn off and make my way up on to Manningham Lane to get to the matches."

Ward councillor for Shipley, Martin Love, said he had received lots of calls from angry drivers.

"People simply can't understand why it's taken so long to sort out," Cllr Love said.

"And they automatically assume it's the council's responsibility to mend the wall, but all it's done is to put up barriers to make it safe for pedestrians.

"In this case I understand the delay is due to a dispute between Network Rail and Crossley Evans about who has responsibility.

"They really ought to get on with it and sort it out and I know our legal department are chasing them about this," Cllr Love said.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "We are sorry that drivers are suffering from traffic delays but Bradford Council is not responsible for the repairs to the wall which supports the highway at Otley Road, Shipley.

"The wall is on land owned by Network Rail and leased by Crossley Evans Ltd.

"The traffic restrictions are necessary to ensure the safety of road users and minimise the risk of further collapse in the vicinity.

"We are in direct communication with Network Rail whom we regard as responsible for the repairs, irrespective of the lease arrangements.

"Our legal officers are working to try to resolve the matter as soon as possible.

"The site location at a busy junction, the condition of the ground and presence of buried services also make the issue more difficult to resolve quickly.”

However a spokesman for Network Rail said last night: "The landowners have been advised that the liability for the wall lies with the tenant."

Nobody was available for comment at Crossley Evans Ltd.