A HOST of Wilsden traffic concerns were addressed as parish councillors met a senior highways engineer.

The think-tank looked at potential solutions to speeding, parking and other safety issues raised in recent months by either councillors and residents.

The meeting focused on hotspots such as Main Street, Shay Lane, Crack Lane, and country roads on the parish boundaries.

Bradford Council engineer Greg Williams, who is responsible for the road network in Shipley constituency, spoke with councillors at the meeting about speeding and traffic calming measures between Sandy Lane and Cullingworth, and between Ling Bob and Bents Lane and on to the Malt.

Mr Williams said colleagues had monitored traffic speeds earlier this year between Harecroft and the Laneside area.

There were more vehicles travelling towards Cullingworth and towards Bradford, but most of the speeding vehicles were travelling towards Bradford. The mean speed was 35/36mph, a rise of more than 3mph since the last monitoring in 2016.

Some residents had told police they were prepared to pay towards safety cameras in their council tax precept, but councils were not allowed to buy such cameras unless there had been accidents with death or serious injury.

Councillors learned that speeds might be reduced through the use of Vehicle Activated Signs, monthly enforcement by police, or Speed Indication Devices (SID).

Bradford highways officers are looking at a SIDs scheme involving up to 19 parish councils across the district, because the equipment is more effective if it is moved every few weeks to different locations.

Cullingworth councillors requested evidence on the effectiveness of SIDs before deciding whether to put money into next year’s budget for the scheme.

Chicanes were suggested to cut traffic speeds in Laneside, but councillors were told these works better if there was an even flow of traffic in both directions.

It was revealed that two or three cars had been turned over in accidents in Harecroft near Bents Lane, and one parked car was written off. Highways officers will look at improving signs in the area.

Attention turned to Main Street, where resident parking permit schemes operate between Crack Lane and Lingfield Road.

After discovering that residents were leaving large gaps between vehicles, the council had marked out individual car-length bays to maximise capacity.

Mr Williams said that despite residents’ perceptions, the height of traffic calming cushions on Main Street were not lower than in other local areas within the district. In Wilsden they conformed to regulations.

Councillors said yellow lines on Crack Lane near its junction with Main Street presented difficulties for vehicles turning into Main Street and pedestrians on Crack Lane.

Councillors asked for the yellow lines to be moved to the other side of the road, near Listerville. This request will be forwarded to Shipley Area Committing for possible funding.

Mr Williams agreed to look into other matters including the painting of new white lines in Shay Lane, the repainting of white stripes on the Main Street zebra crossing at the post office, and repainting of double yellow lines around Tweedy Street so they are continuous.

He proposed setting up electronic units to record speeds at three locations in the 20mph zone along Main Street.

Councillors said the placement of a bus stop in Main Street near to Caterleisure and a residents’ parking area caused traffic to come to a standstill during rush hours. Drivers were sometimes forced to use the pavement to unblock the traffic jams.

Councillors also highlighted the need to repair potholes in the Wilsden and Harecroft areas.