A pensioner who was born in historic Saltaire has hit out at plans to reinstate original Victorian stone setts in the heart of the village.

A short section of Victoria Road near Salts Mill was returned to its original state several years ago.

The Telegraph & Argus reported earlier this month how Bradford Council's Shipley community area panel had approved plans to spend £7,000 on extending the setts up Victoria Road by including the scheme in its 2001/02 programme of general highways maintenance.

Panel chairman Councillor David Herdson (Con, Shipley West) and Saltaire Village Society chairman Clive Woods believe the scheme will boost Saltaire's bid to become a World Heritage Site and make Victoria Road safer by slowing down traffic.

But Les Brotherton, 68, who was born in Saltaire and lives in Caroline Street, has branded the scheme a waste of money and says he believes the setts could make Victoria Road more dangerous for pedestrians.

Mr Brotherton said: "I remember from when I was very young that if you get a shower of rain in the winter and it freezes the setts get very slippery and can be potentially very dangerous for pedestrians.

"They're trying to turn Saltaire into a museum but it's a living entity - it's not a textile village any more and you can't turn the clock back.

"The only people who are going to benefit from all this heritage business are the tourists and shopkeepers.''

Mr Brotherton added that World Heritage Site status would make problems such as parking and traffic - issues which the Saltaire Draft Management Plan seeks to address - even worse.

But Coun Herdson said: "It's likely to encourage more visitors who will spend more money in the village which has got to be good for Saltaire as a whole.

"We have had requests for traffic calming on Victoria Road and this will go some way towards slowing down the traffic and improving safety.''