A STRETCH of road in Shipley town centre would be closed off to cars in a bid to make the area more friendly to pedestrians.

The length of Kirkgate between the town’s indoor and outdoor market will only be open to buses and taxis, with the stretch widened to create a cycle lane either side.

A public consultation on the plans, which also include turning a number of streets into one way systems and restricting entry to others, began yesterday.

A spokesman for a local active travel group hopes the changes will encourage more people to visit the town's smaller businesses, rather than large supermarkets.

Bradford Council says the “bus gate” is the first step in its Shipley Streets for People scheme to make the town centre, less polluted, less car centric and more attractive for pedestrians and cyclists.

Plans to make the town centre more pedestrian friendly have been in the pipeline for several months, but details of the first stage of this have only now been released.

The new limits would be placed on Kirkgate between the junction with Otley Road and New Kirkgate.

And a section of Westgate, between Kirkgate and the Junction with Atkinson Street - in front of the Sun Hotel, would be closed to all traffic.

Shipley town centre set to be transformed in £1million project

Crowgill Road would become a one way street - with vehicles only allowed to travel from Saltaire Road to Kirkgate.

A number of on street parking bays would be moved.

The work is being funded through a mix of active travel funding, to boost walking and cycling, and the Government’s Towns Fund - a pot of cash awarded to towns across the country in need of regeneration.

Shipley could eventually see projects worth £25m funded through the scheme.

The Council has said: “This would help to reduce traffic along this route, reducing noise and air pollution, and improving bus journey times.

“Reducing the volume of vehicles in the Kirkgate area will also help to provide a safer, cleaner and more vibrant environment for everyone to enjoy.”

Cars and other vehicles needing to access the area including the rail station, Canal Road and Fox Corner will now need to do so via Commercial Street and Saltaire Road.

A survey of air pollution in the town held in 2019 found illegal levels of nitrogen dioxide on several main roads.

Bradford Council’s Interim Strategic Director for Place, Jason Longhurst, said: “The plans that we’ve launched today form an important part of our vision for the future of Shipley Town Centre.

"We know that in order for Shipley to meet its ambition to become one of the best places to live, work and visit, we need to create a town centre that is safer, more attractive and easier to access.

"The proposed changes to Kirkgate will still mean people can access the area by car, but they’ll also provide a much better experience for people travelling to the area by bus, cycling or walking.

“We look forward to hearing residents’ and businesses’ views on the proposed changes as we enter this exciting new chapter in Shipley’s history.”

David Robison from Bradford Cycling Campaign said the changes could give a boost to smaller businesses in the town.

He said: "Lots of facilities within Shipley are within easy walking and cycling distance of residential areas and public transport facilities.

"Active travellers (those who walk or cycling) tend to make shorter trips, more often and make more use of local independent shops and cafes than those that arrive by car and thus bring more economic benefits to an area than would be involved in say a weekly car-based shop to a supermarket.

"Shipley is an ideal destination for leaving the car at home - and added to the fact up to a third of residents don't have access to a car, it makes a lot of sense to make some changes in the centre to make it a more pleasant environment for all.

"It's important to note however that there is still plenty of parking and road routes nearby so it's not as if this will significantly inconvenience car users.

"Outside this scheme, work is urgently needed to create better crossings and access to the centre from the areas surrounds - e.g. from the Railway Station and the Canal for people who are walking or cycling.

"Shipley suffers from 'community severance' and poor air quality caused by the major roads which bisect and surround it.

"We're still waiting for a crossing over Leeds Road from the Canal Road Greenway cycle route and it's still the case that there is a lack of traffic free and segregated routes that would provide better access for all to the town centre from the Greenway and the Canal - which are both key cycle routes."

James Craig from campaign group Clean Air Bradford said: "Clean Air Bradford welcome plans to reduce traffic in Shipley Town Centre.

"Air Pollution levels are illegally high in parts of Shipley, much of which is attributable to the very high levels of traffic in the town. Any measures taken to reduce traffic and encourage more walking and cycling, is to be welcomed."

The consultation runs until May 12.

To have your say visit https://bradford.moderngov.co.uk/mgConsultationdisplay.aspx?Id=316 or call 0808 196 9119.