Bradford Council has accused the Government of "putting the thumb screws on" it to adopt unpopular Whitehall-backed bus lanes.

The Council's executive portfolio holder for the environment Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Con, Ilkley) said the plans could hit city centre businesses.

She fears multi-occupancy vehicle lanes will drive shoppers out of Bradford at a time when the authority is trying to attract people in.

Over the next nine months Bradford transport experts will team up with those in the rest of West Yorkshire to produce a joint transport plan for the region's five authorities.

The contents of that plan will dictate the amount of funding that Transport Secretary Alistair Darling allocates for projects in the district.

Coun Hawkesworth said the district was relying on that cash to fund new transport schemes, so it would have to think carefully before rejecting Whitehall's wishes.

She said: "We have to produce a plan acceptable to the residents of the other West Yorkshire authorities and that the Government will accept and if we don't do that we will not get the money. We are going to have to work together, we have no choice."

She believes the Government will want to hear about congestion charges and bus lanes.

"The more innovative we are with the schemes the more likely we are to get the money," she said.

"The question is, is that money worth having if the schemes are not what we want to do?

"It is like having the thumb screws put on.

"Our policy is to encourage people into the centre of Bradford. We are concerned that if we penalise motorists we would not achieve that aim. The Government is being over-prescriptive about what authorities should and should not do. But we are bidding here for the money for the next five years. The better we get it, the more money we get into Bradford."

A Government spokesman said: "We are issuing guidance on the kind of things we want local authorities to put into their plans. It is up to each one to find local solutions to local problems - we are not prescriptive.

"We want a local transport plan which meets the needs of Bradford but also fits in with the wider agenda of improving safety and reducing congestion. In no way are we trying to say that cars are not wanted in Bradford city centre.

"Every local authority transport plan will be assessed, and a robust transport plan will do well."

Over the next few months, part of any money awarded is likely to be earmarked for a replacement route for Princes Way, which faces closure under Bradford Centre Regeneration's masterplan.

The other priorities for discussion are the outer ring road, bus services and routes to the city centre, the Aire Valley, Wharfe Valley, Worth Valley and other rural communities. Links to Leeds and the airport are also seen as important.