KEIGHLEY MP Kris Hopkins has demanded Bradford Council comes clean on its plans for tackling town-centre traffic jams.

Mr Hopkins says many local people and businesses are clamouring for progress on long-awaited proposals to keep vehicles moving.

In a letter to council leader Susan Hinchcliffe, he questioned what had happened to plans for a one-way system which had already secured funding.

Local councillors this week hit back at Mr Hopkins, insisting the council was working hard behind the scenes to come up with lasting solutions to the congestion.

In his letter to Cllr Hinchcliffe, Mr Hopkins said he had received a number of approaches from local businesses and constituents concerned about a lack of progress in introducing a one-way system to help ease congestion.

Mr Hopkins said: “The impact on local businesses, particularly bus and taxi companies, is extreme with town centre traffic frequently in gridlock.

“I understood that funding for this initiative was secured in 2013, but no progress has yet been made after the initial plans were scrapped.

“I would like to see alternative proposals brought forward as a matter of urgency. I also require an assurance that the monies allocated to the original scheme have been safeguarded.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Bradford Council’s portfolio holder for regeneration, planning and transport, said the one-way scheme was not taken forward after consultation with the public and local businesses, and further analysis by traffic engineers.

He said: “The benefits of the scheme would have been wiped out after a couple of years and we cannot justify spending money on something that won’t deliver sustained improvements for people in Keighley.

“Instead we have developed a package of short and long-term congestion reduction measures that will deliver more long-lasting improvements to traffic flow in Keighley town centre, including better traffic light timings and street parking regulations while working with transport operators to resolve issues around the bus station."

Keighley Central ward councillor Abid Hussain said officers and councillors were working together to find a solution.

He added: "This is not an easy thing to do overnight, it has to take time if we want to do it right.”

Fellow district councillor Khadim Hussain said: “For the last year a lot of work has been put in by the council and they are working on a solution that will be helpful to buses and traffic.

“This is just point-scoring from Kris Hopkins. The issue he is raising has been raised by Keighley Area Committee and the council’s executive.

“I realise there is public frustration with the congestion. But we needed a holistic approach that looked at the bigger picture.”