MUCH of Shipley town centre could soon become a 20 mph zone.

Next week Bradford Council will begin a public consultation into reducing the speed limit on a swathe of streets in the town.

The authority says the plan is to “encourage vehicle speeds appropriate for the high levels of pedestrian movement” in Shipley.

Although 30mph limits will remain on main roads bordering the town centre - Bradford Road, Otley Road and Commercial Street, roads within the centre will become 20pmh zones.

However, the proposals are unlikely to see any major changes to road layouts, such as the introduction of traffic calming.

Instead the scheme will rely on new signage and existing road layouts to limit speeds.

Shipley could become a 'mini-Holland' in bid become more green

It follows a similar change last year that saw much of Bradford city centre converted into a 20mph zone. Roads leading to a number of primary schools have also had their speed limit reduced to 20mph.

A public consultation on the plans begins on Friday February 21 and ends on March 13.

There are already a number of 20mph zones in the area, including Saltaire Road, between Shipley and Saltaire.

Announcing the consultation, the Council said: “20mph zones are a recognised means of reducing road collisions and associated casualties, and are very effective at protecting our most vulnerable road users, including children, pedestrians and cyclists, significantly decreasing the risk of being injured in a collision and/or the resulting severity.

“There is evidence that even relatively small reductions in mean vehicle speeds can have a positive impact on the rate and severity of collisions.

“In addition to the road safety benefits, such schemes also have a positive effect on encouraging walking and cycling activity, as well as helping to reduce the degree of severance of local communities.

“The area making up the proposed zone has been carefully selected to include only streets where there are either existing traffic calming measures in place, or the road layout and level of on-street parking and traffic and pedestrian movement already results in vehicle speeds generally around 20mph or below.

“The proposals would include the introduction of a significant level of signing and lining to highlight the new speed limit.”

Last year Shipley was awarded a £1 million grant from West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Healthy Streets programme.

The grant will be used to “transform” a town centre currently dominated by cars and motor traffic. It could be used for schemes such as boosting pedestrian and cycle links, improving air quality and introducing more greenery to the urban centre.

The town centre car park could be turned into an “events square” with gardens and pop up market space.

The 20 mph zone plans will be available for viewing from February 23 to March 13 during normal office hours at the Customer Services Reception in Bradford City Hall and at Shipley Library.