A SECTION of Little Horton Lane could soon be closed to traffic, with part of the road replaced by a new 'pocket park.'

And the plans would also see two new “supercrossings” installed between City Park and the Alhambra Theatre to make it easier for pedestrians to cross Prince’s Way.

These are just two of a number of changes to a new scheme aimed at transforming Bradford city centre.

Plans to pedestrianise swathes of Bradford city centre have been in the pipeline for several years, and will involve much of Hall Ings becoming a traffic free zone.

The initial £30m plans, which have been funded by Government through the Transforming Cities Fund, would have seen Jacob’s Well roundabout replaced with a pedestrian area, and a new underpass created for traffic.

Today West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which had developed the plans in partnership with Bradford Council, revealed a number of changes to the plans which went out to public consultation last year.

Although the roundabout will still be removed, the underpass plan has been scrapped. Instead, two “high quality supercrossings” will replace the existing pedestrian crossings linking City Park to the Media Museum, Alhambra and under development Bradford Live.

One of the most drastic changes is the plan to close Little Horton Lane off to traffic from Prince’s Way/Godwin Street. At this junction, between the Media Museum and the city centre war memorials, a new pocket park will be created.

The Combined Authority said: “The proposals for Little Horton Lane would create a more pleasant and open space, allowing people to get around the cultural quarter more easily while walking, riding a bike or taking public transport.”

Many of the other aspects of the scheme remain. Market Street and Broadway will be closed to traffic, as would Sunbridge Road at the junction with Tyrell Street.

A turning circle would be created at the bottom of the city street.

The pedestrianisation of Hall Ings will lead to the expansion of Norfolk Gardens, a small park are next to City Hall, and the creation of a new pedestrian entrance to Bradford Interchange.

The street also called Norfolk Gardens would be closed to all traffic except for disabled parking.

An existing taxi rank on that street would be re-located.

Pedestrianised Well Street, behind The Broadway Shopping Centre, will be opened up as part of a new “public transport corridor” for buses and taxis.

A “cyclops junction” designed with the safety of cyclists in mind, will be created at the junction of Hall Ings, Well Street and Vicar Lane.

Eight “bus hubs” – including a shelter, seating, information boards and ticket machines, will be installed throughout the centre They will be based at Forster Square Railway Station, Rawson Square, Goitside, City Park/Entertainment Quarter, Market Street, Bradford Cathedral, Little Germany/Broadway and Bradford Interchange.

A new circular bus route that will transport people around the city centre will be introduced, and take in all of these eight bus hubs.

The Combined Authority has said “There are other existing ambitious projects as well as this scheme, including Bradford Live, Darley Street Market, City Village and One City Park. Together, these will reshape the civic heart of Bradford city centre by creating a hugely improved setting with the introduction of new public and green spaces, and would transform transport and travel into and around the city centre by improving public transport, cycling and walking infrastructure.

“The improvements would make the city more attractive for when Bradford is the City of Culture in 2025, and support Bradford to be one of the UK’s leading cities in the 21st century.”

Another scheme getting Transforming Cities Fund cash is the West Bradford Cycle Superhighway – a segregates cycle route from the city centre towards Thornton.

The scheme has been priced at £17.5m, but a start point has never been revealed.

The new consultation reveals that this cycle way will begin at the junction of Sunbridge Road and Godwin Street.

A public consultation on the amended plans to the highways shake up has now begun.

To take part visit https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordcentre.

There will be public events about the plans at the Broadway Shopping Centre on July 13 and 14.

The consultation ends on August 2.