Plans for the launch of an Urban Regeneration Company to spearhead the redevelopment of Bradford are moving on apace. It is a vital development for the city and the hopes of the whole district are resting on its ability to inject the sort of drive and direction into Bradford's future that has been lacking since the days of the wool barons.

It is inconceivable that such a plan could progress without taking into account the needs of the Aire Valley corridor. Those who raised fears that this might be the case clearly haven't studied the 2020 Vision document which sets out a clear role for the development of business and industry, preferably of a hi-tech nature, in Airedale.

The Council's decision to organise a special meeting at the Bankfield Hotel, Bingley, to bring together ideas for this part of the plan is especially important in reinforcing the breadth of the URC's role.

The focus of its efforts, however, is likely to be the desperate state of transport in this area. Any real attempt to expand business in the Aire Valley will fall on its face without a major road-building scheme to clear up congestion beyond the end of the Bingley Relief Road when it is completed towards the end of next year.

The reckless nature of housing development in the last Urban Development Plan has led to thousands more cars pouring on to already congested roads. Businesses will be strangled without some committed large-scale road improvements. Bus and cycle lanes and fiddling with junctions will not do the job.