A consultation into the future of transport in the Aire Valley - which included a controversial questionnaire - has been accepted as a fair view by councillors.

Council officers are now concentrating on developing a strategy in line with the favoured option which includes investment in public transport.

But fresh concerns have been raised about the distribution of a A650/A657 corridor improvements study which was part of the exercise. Only 3,169 responses were received out of a total of 59,691 households.

Councillor David Green (Lab, Odsal) said he was dubious about the distribution of the leaflet which had been received by just two householders in his street in Shipley.

And Councillor Ian Greenwood, leader of the Labour group, said they were concerned about distribution but given the need for urgent action the results of the study should be pursued. "A number of people did not get the survey as they should have done," he added.

But Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment, told the Council's executive committee that Faber Maunsell, who carried out the study, said only 0.5 per cent of people did not receive the questionnaire.

The survey was commissioned by Bradford Council as part of a consultation, which included public meetings, to test public reaction on suggested improvements following completion of the Bingley Relief Road. A total of 3,169 responses - approximately five per cent - revealed a majority favoured the public transport option.

Councillor David Ford (Green, Shipley West) said he was disappointed the executive didn't take on board his suggestion for a special public meeting to discuss distribution issues. "Even at this late stage people should be able to express their views and I think they should be given an opportunity to write in," he said.