ROAD congestion is a huge problem for Bradford. Latest survey figures by the Department of Transport shows the average speed across the district's A roads is little more than 20mph and that drops to about 12mph on the three worst jammed routes.

Bradford Chamber of Commerce points out that traffic congestion and the harm caused to business is one of the most frequently raised issues over recent years and says its members are "desperate" for things to improve.

And anyone who faces daily journeys through the city centre, Shipley and Keighley, would surely all too readily concur.

But, with a growing population, the problem is likely to get worse, despite some localised schemes on the drawing board to try to alleviate particular hotspots.

Cllr Val Slater, who is in charge of transport, concedes that the issue of city centre congestion is one of the hardest nuts to crack. Of course any solution is likely to come at a significant cost but to do nothing would cause huge long-term damage to the district's economy.

What the Council should be doing is putting together a comprehensive strategic proposal for the Leeds City Region for a substantial chunk of regional transport cash to deal with the problem that has plagued Bradford for years and damages its future development.

It is an absolute priority to get this sorted and the Council must punch its weight so the district gets this regional funding it so desperately needs.