A FEASIBILITY study into a desperately-needed footbridge over a busy main road has still not started – despite funding being in place for well over a year.

Furious campaigners say pedestrians are taking their lives in their hands trying to get across the Aire Valley trunk road, one of the fastest and busiest routes in the district.

The Government gave £700,000 for investigations into a bridge spanning the dual carriageway, to link Steeton and Silsden.

But it has been revealed that it could be several months more before the study starts.

Although Bradford Council is spearheading the project, the money is being handled by West Yorkshire Combined Authority.

MP John Grogan is calling a meeting of all those involved before the end of the year. He said: “I want to see a clear timetable of when we can expect the feasibility study report itself. Having got the money in place for the study, we need a greater sense of urgency in getting the consultants started.”

Among those pressing for answers is Adrian Naylor, a Craven-ward district councillor and member of Silsden Town Council.

He said when he raised the issue in May, he was told the study would begin in a couple of months.

“The £700,000 that was specifically allocated for this project had been granted 14 months prior to that,” he said.

“The money has been sat there all this time and now we’re told they’re ‘about to’ appoint consultants.”

Both Silsden Town Council and neighbouring Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council have included a footbridge in their joint neighbourhood plan.

Councillor Peter Robinson, Silsden’s mayor and town council chairman, said a bridge was his “number one priority”.

“It’s something that’s desperately needed – I have tried crossing that road myself and it’s a nightmare,” added the 76-year-old.

Steeton-with-Eastburn Parish Council chairman, Councillor David Mullen, said you “have to be Linford Christie” to get across the road safely.

Bradford Council’s executive member for regeneration, planning and transport, Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, said the feasibility study is currently out to tender.He said: “We hope to have someone in place in the next few months. We have been working as fast as we can to make progress on this project.

“This is as well as delivering a massive capital work programme of well over £120m which includes the Hard Ings Road improvement scheme in Keighley, plus the improvements to New Line Greengates junction, work on the Shipley Canal Road corridor and redevelopment of Forster Square Railway Station and the Interchange, which will be of benefit to all travelling through the district.”

West Yorkshire Combined Authority said it was hoped to have a consultant appointed within a month.