Steeton traffic lights plan withdrawn (From Craven Herald)

Steeton traffic lights plan withdrawn

9:00am Friday 22nd February 2013 in News

Controversial plans to install traffic lights on the busy main road through Steeton have been withdrawn.

Housing developer Redrow Homes proposed the lights for the junction of Skipton Road and Thornhill Road. The scheme tied in with plans already approved by Bradford Council to build 220 homes on fields off Thornhill Road.

Dozens of local residents voiced concerns about the lights during a consultation meeting in the village last December.

They feared that the lights would worsen existing congestion problems along Skipton Road for vehicles travelling towards Steeton Top and encourage rat running in nearby streets.

Craven ward councillor Adrian Naylor believed Redrow had withdrawn the traffic light plans because Bradford Council planning officers had indicated they would not support them.

He said: “I think the points raised at the public meeting were communicated back to the officers and they have listened. It shows that democracy has worked. It’s something that people can see, they turned out and raised valid planning concerns.”

Redrow Homes has to pay for improvements at the Skipton Road/Thornhill Road junction as a condition of its planning permission for the housing development.

The company gained permission to widen Skipton Road to create a turning lane but last autumn announced it wanted to install traffic lights instead.