A PETITION to connect two communities divided by the Aire Valley Trunk Road has been started by Keighley's MP.

It aims to help step up the campaign for a new pedestrian bridge over the dual carriageway to make it safer for pedestrians to walk between Steeton and Silsden.

Pedestrians have to negotiate fast-moving traffic on the A629 to get between the town and the village, or to reach Silsden from Steeton and Silsden Railway Station.

Announcing the petition, Keighley Conservative MP Kris Hopkins said he had been campaigning on the issue for more than a year and, before the General Election, gave Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin a guided tour of the area to make the case for the project.

He has now invited Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones, the minister with responsibility for roads and highways, to make a similar visit.

Mr Hopkins said: “Since the General Election, I have continued my dialogue with transport ministers and I am confident that Andrew Jones will come to the area very soon to see the need for the bridge and hear the views of local people.

“In the meantime, I will be asking residents and business people to sign my petition, so that Andrew and his officials can be left in no doubt about the strength of local feeling on this matter.”

Mr Hopkins is writing to residents requesting their views and outlining his arguments in favour of the bridge.

He visited high street businesses in Silsden to give out the petition and ask for their support.

He added: “There is a very clear need for a bridge to be built across the A629, adjacent to Steeton and Silsden Railway Station.

"It is an incredibly busy road, and I have long feared that the lives of pedestrians are at risk if something isn’t done.

“There is a strong desire among Steeton and Silsden residents and local businesses for the two communities to be properly linked.”

Commenting after Mr McLoughlin's visit last November, Councillor Andrew Mallinson (Con, Craven) said there had been a good case for many years for a footbridge.

He said when he last investigated the cost of such a project, it came to nearly £1.5 million. He also said there were land ownership issues, which would need to be resolved first.

Further information about how to get involved in the campaign for the footbridge is available by logging on to krishopkins.co.uk or by e-mailing kris.hopkins.mp@parliamemt.uk.