KEIGHLEY businesses and the public are being urged to have their say on the town's planned £1.4 million one-way system.

The jam-busting project has been given the green light by Keighley Area Committee.

Now consultation will begin, in March, before findings are reported back to councillors this summer.

Work could go ahead in the first half of next year.

Committee chairman Khadim Hussain, a Keighley Central ward councillor, said members last Thursday voted unanimously in favour of the continued development of the long-awaited scheme – for a clockwise gyratory along East Parade, Hanover Street and Cavendish Street.

"There are issues but doing nothing is simply not an option," he said.

"This scheme, together with improved traffic-light synchronisation, will help bring some relief to the congestion situation.

"However it is only a short-term solution and even if expensive we need to look at longer-term measures, such as widening the railway bridge in Bradford Road."

The one-way scheme also involves banning right turns into Bradford Road from Gresley Road and Low Mill Lane, and from Coney Lane into East Parade, new pedestrian crossings, a 20mph speed limit and several other traffic management measures.

There would be new parking layouts in Cavendish Street and Hanover Street.

Cllr Khadim adds: "It is important that businesses and other interested parties take the opportunity to give their views during the consultation so that people's opinions and suggestions can be heard. It's in people's interests to contribute."

Steve Seymour, chairman of Keighley Town Centre Association and manager of the Airedale Shopping Centre, welcomes the proposal.

"Having seen the computer modelling for the scheme I am confident it will improve traffic management in the town centre," he said.

"It won't be the answer to all the problems – it is part of a bigger picture – but it is an essential element to help improve peak-time traffic flows."

The scheme also gets the thumbs-up from association vice-chairman Graham Benn, who runs DIY Solutions in Cavendish Street.

But he says there mustn't be any decrease in on-street parking provision.

"I think the one-way system is a good idea – at the moment traffic is chaotic in Cavendish Street – but there must be ample parking," he said.

"We don't want a ring road with no facility to park."

The area committee also approved a three-month trial ban on vehicles turning right from Hard Ings Road into Lawkholme Lane, Back Byrl Street and Back Caledonia Road.

Highways officers say the move would reduce queuing back onto the Victoria Park roundabout caused by westbound drivers stopping to let right-turning motorists make their manoeuvre.

They add that the ban would also reduce traffic flows and improve safety through the Lawkholme area.

The decision is subject to consultation with emergency services and other parties.

"This is proposed as a pilot to see if there are benefits," said Cllr Hussain.