Plans for a new 40mph speed limit on the approach to Harden from Cullingworth have been unveiled by Bradford Council.

Ward councillor Simon Cooke this week welcomed news traffic could be slowed from 60mph further away from Harden.

He said the 40mph stretch would provide a useful buffer zone before drivers reached the current 30mph limit on the outskirts of the village.

Vehicles currently have to switch from 60mph to 30mph just before reaching Harden, then to 20mph while travelling through the village itself.

Plans for the 40mph stretch were sent to local councillors this week for comment, in advance of being advertised to the public.

Coun Cooke believes the new zone would complement traffic-calming, introduced in the centre of Harden about six months ago. He added: “When we held a consultation on the traffic-calming in Harden, a lot of people raised the issue of the speed of vehicles going into the village.

“The area committee asked highways officers to look at moving the speed limit further towards Cullingworth.

“We’re hoping that essentially this will provide a buffer zone. We will have a gradual decline in speed.”