A STEEP street regularly used as a 'rat-run' by speeding Bradford motorists could be blocked off in a bid to improve road safety in the area.

Crow Tree Lane, in Girlington, is set to be closed at its junction with Pearson Lane, Daisy Hill Lane, and Duckworth Lane, after 11 accidents leading to injures there in the last five years.

An objection to the recommended closure has been raised by one local resident, who claims it may affect access by the emergency services to West Bank Care Home, situated near the top of Crow Tree Lane, if the road is affected by adverse winter weather conditions.

A report due to go before the Bradford West Area Committee this week, written by Mike Cowlam, strategic director for regeneration and culture at Bradford Council, says the proposed closure was initially approved in April last year as part of the Safer Roads Schemes for Bradford West programme for 2014/15.

Under the £50,000 plans, the top of Crow Tree Lane will be blocked to traffic and become a pedestrian walkway, with traffic at the new three-way junction controlled by a mini-roundabout.

A turning area further along the street would be constructed to allow traffic to head back along Crow Tree Lane towards Allerton Road.

The report says: "The narrow width and excessively steep gradient of Crow Tree Lane make it unsuitable for the large volume of through traffic which currently uses it.

"A considerable number of the vehicles travel at an excessive speed, particularly in the downhill direction, despite traffic calming measures having been applied to the road.

"There have been 11 injury accidents at the Crow Tree Lane, Pearson Lane, Daisy Hill Lane, and Duckworth Lane junction in the five-year period to June 6, 2015.

"The large volume of traffic using Crow Tree Lane exacerbates traffic hazards at the junction, where there is very limited visibility between vehicles on Crow Tree Lane and those on other approaches to the junction.

"The closure of Crow Tree Lane would facilitate both the provision of a safer pedestrian route between Pearson Lane and Duckworth Lane and the provision of a mini-roundabout to increase traffic safety by improved regulation of traffic movements at the junction.

"If the proposal were not to be implemented, then current risks arising from concerns about road safety at the junction and along Crow Tree Lane would be perpetuated."

An objection lodged with the Council against the road closure said if Crow Tree Lane was affected by ice and snow, an ambulance would not be able to reach West Bank due to the steep uphill gradient of the road.

It claims the scheme could have "serious consequences" for a resident requiring an ambulance, saying that in the past, access from the top of the hill has been possible.

In response, the report states: "The conditions of severe winter weather described by the objector generally occur only on a very small number of days each year.

"If road surface conditions were such that it was not possible for a vehicle to travel up the hill, then it is unlikely what it would be safe for a vehicle to travel down."

No-one from West Bank care home was available to comment on the plans, but the local authority has consulted emergency services who made no objection to the proposals.

Bradford West Area Committee meets at City Hall at 6pm on Wednesday.