SIR - The closure of one lane of Otley Road near Dockfield Road due to essential gas main replacements is causing misery for motorists travelling from Baildon and further afield towards Shipley and beyond.

Even during off-peak times Otley Road is backed up beyond St James’s Church causing massive delays to people trying to get to their destinations.

After the initial gridlock it is pleasing that Northern Gas Networks are now working longer hours and weekends to try and finish the work before the advertised 11 weeks; I have contacted them to ask if they could also work through the night when there is least disruption to the traffic.

However, the current situation highlights again the problems we have when anything goes wrong on this stretch of road - whether an accident or roadworks.

There is no alternative route except to go many miles out of your way which then has a detrimental knock-on effect on other local roads.

The only long-term solution is a Shipley Eastern relief road and it is time this was considered a priority by the ruling Labour group on Bradford Council.

Cllr Debbie Davies (Baildon ward, Conservative), Hartlington Court, Baildon