A massive action plan has been drawn up in a bid to keep Bradford crisis-free when hundreds of thousands of people celebrate the Millennium.

The Council's transportation, planning and design committee has been told that a new Millennium board set up by the authority was carrying out an audit for the year 2000, looking at potential problems and ways to tackle them.

Officers said the aim was for people across the district to enjoy the celebrations, but at the same time keep services running and ready for emergencies. The committee was told preparation for the year 2000 was a major management challenge for authorities across the country and it was felt a large number of people would want to be involved in the celebrations.

The audit findings will now go to all other Council committees which will consider them and feed in information in the lead-up to the big year.

People are being urged to get hold of Government packs of advice for street parties, rather than hold them at the last minute in circumstances where emergency vehicles may be unable to reach them.

If Centenary Square is used for parties, there is likely to be a medical centre.

A report to the committee on the audit said the board had up-to-date details on traffic signals and tests were being carried out by simulating the 1999/2000 rollover.

Councillors were told that normal New Year's Day traffic control room staffing levels would be maintained to deal with any emergency.

Committee chairman Councillor Latif Darr said: "Careful and rigorous planning will be needed to ensure that this huge event goes smoothly''.

Deputy chairman Councillor Jack Womersley - also Bradford fire community safety officer - said: "There will be a lot more bonfires, parties and drink, but I am sure that people are going to enjoy this and this planning mechanism is not meant to predict doom and gloom."

l Shopkeepers told councillors that their businesses were being decimated because of double yellow lines. The traders from business properties between 536 and 558 Thornton Road asked for single yellow lines which would at least allow people to make short visits to the shops.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.