COUNCIL bosses have identified more than 20 flood-damaged bridges, roads and footpaths which will be repaired thanks to a £2.5 million Government handout.

Road bridges in Keighley, Haworth, Burley-in-Wharfedale and Oxenhope and footbridges in Esholt, Bingley, Addingham and Shipley will be among the structures being repaired following the devastating Boxing Day floods.

Two weeks ago, the Government revealed how much money it was giving to flood-hit authorities to allow them to repair their highways.

Council bosses in Bradford say its £2.5m settlement should cover all the necessary works, but neighbouring Calderdale Council has warned it still faces an £11m funding gap in repairing its highways, despite a Government handout of nearly £20m.

Bradford Council has carried out structural safety inspections and assessments on bridges, roads, retaining walls, landslips and culverts across the district.

Any bridges which were closed have since reopened.

Councillor Val Slater, deputy leader at Labour-run Bradford Council and executive member for planning, transportation and highways, said they were "satisfied" with the Government settlement and repairs work would be done as soon as possible.

"Ideally, we would like to get on with it as soon as possible. It is about making things safe and it is about where structures have been closed, opening them up as soon as possible for the convenience of local people," she said.

Separate funding to bolster flood defences and try to prevent similar devastation in future has yet to be finalised. It will be allocated through the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

Councillor Mike Ellis (Con, Bingley Rural), Bradford Council's representative on this committee, said: "I welcome the highways money.

"It is in addition to any flood defence grant in aid that we might secure for any flood defences, so it is extremely welcome."

Meanwhile, the council in Calderdale, which was severely hit by the Boxing Day floods, is still pushing for more money to cover its £11m shortfall.

Calderdale has been given a £19.47m grant from the Department for Transport to repair flood-damaged roads across its district, on top of £5.5m of Department for Transport money already committed to rebuilding Elland Bridge.

But the repair bill to restore all the affected roads and bridges in Calderdale is estimated at £32.5m.

Leader of Calderdale Council, Councillor Tim Swift, said: "We’ve been working hard since the Boxing Day floods to make our case to the Government.

"Obviously we’re delighted by this award and by last week’s announcement of £35m to the Environment Agency for flood defences in Calderdale.

"This will allow us to rebuild our vital infrastructure and restore confidence in our towns, which are continuing to recover from the devastating floods.

"However, the impact was so great that we still face a funding gap of around £11m and we will continue to press the Government for further support."

Where the £2.5m repairs cash will be spent:

Road bridges

Mill Hey Bridge, Haworth;

Keepers Lodge Bridge, Oxenhope;

Lowertown Bridge, Keighley;

Woodhouse Bridge, Keighley;

Robin Hole Bridge, Burley-in-Wharfedale; and, minor repairs to other bridges in the district

Foot bridges

Two Myrtle Park bridges, Bingley;

Lower Holme Footbridge, Shipley;

Esholt Suspension Bridge, Esholt;

Beckfoot Bridge, Bingley;

Bolton Road, Addingham; and, other small footbridges

Landslips

arn House, Cullingworth Park;

Wood Street, Keighley;

Rockhill Lane, Bierley;

Retaining walls

A6034 Keighley Road, Silsden;

Bradley Road, Silsden;

Woodhouse Road, Keighley;

Denton Road, Ilkley;

and Stepping Stones River Street, Haworth;

Ilkley Moor, Robin Hole to Cow and Calf;

A629 Denholme Green Lane, Baildon;

Esholt.