Pensioners delighted with new traffic islands in Keighley

They are able to get across Oakworth Road to reach shops and buses following this month’s installation of the islands.

The residents in the two separate locations said they were trapped in their homes before the work was carried out.

Bradford Council has built one traffic island at the junction with Fell Lane, next to the Queen Elizabeth Court sheltered housing complex, where there are dozens of elderly residents.

The other is outside Hillworth Village, a former workhouse converted into flats, which is just above Keighley Health Centre.

Audrey Paige, 78, who lives at Hillworth Village, said: “There are 68 flats here and they’re all elderly and disabled people.

“My doctor is in Oakworth and I have to get across the road to the bus stop. In the past I’ve stood here 10 minutes waiting to get across.

“We can now get to the shops and the butchers across the road. It’s also easier to get a bus to and from town for the clinic.”

The traffic islands were built following a request to the highways department from Jan Smithies, who represents Keighley West Ward on Bradford Council.

Coun Smithies said the requests had taken a couple of years to reach the top of the waiting list for funding from the council’s Keighley Area Committee.

She said: “Residents at both locations had raised issues about trying to get across the road for a couple of years.

“Sightlines aren’t great for pedestrians wanting to get across the road at the Fell Lane junction.

“There are a lot of older people living at Queen Elizabeth Court and in Fell Lane, and a lot of families who go across to Lund Park.

“A lot of the older people were extremely worried about going out and crossing the road. If you’re not quick on your feet you can only get half way across.”

Coun Smithies said the Fell Lane traffic island had already made it safer for everyone to cross Oakworth Road.

She added: “Residents of Queen Elizabeth Court were astounded how many other people were using the island.”