WORK has begun on upgrading the pedestrian crossing next to a busy Silsden road junction.

News of the work, which will see the long-established zebra transformed into a modern puffin crossing, has received a mixed reception from local councillors.

Town and district councillor Adrian Naylor believes the long-awaited upgrade will provide much-needed safety improvements for both pedestrians and drivers.

But fellow Bradford councillor Andrew Mallinson claims the crossing on Kirkgate, next to the busy junctions with Elliot Street and Clog Bridge/Howden Road, could actually increase danger.

The crossing is one of three in close proximity along Kirkgate, the busy main road through the centre of Silsden.

Keighley Area Committee, part of Bradford Council, agreed last year to spend £35,000 providing a traffic light-controlled puffin crossing at one of the crossings. They are all used by children going to Hothfield Junior School and Aire View Infants School.

In July 2013 the committee backed Cllr Naylor’s call for the money to be spent at Elliott Street, overruling a competing request from Cllr Mallinson for improvements to the crossing outside Silsden Town Hall.

Cllr Naylor this spring blasted delays to the scheme, following an accident in which an elderly pedestrian suffered head injuries after being involved in a collision with a car.

Bradford Council this month announced the start of work by contractors J&N Feather, which is expected to be completed next month.

Measures include a new traffic signal controlled puffin crossing, widening of the narrow footway on the eastern side of Kirkgate, relocation of a bus stop, and amended waiting and loading restrictions.

Cllr Naylor this week said the puffin crossing was particularly needed because there had been no lollipop lady on the road for the past 12 months.

He said: “This crossing will make it safe for the children crossing the road, and drivers coming out of the junctions. There’s no question this will improve things.”

Cllr Mallinson was concerned about potential danger caused by vehicles coming over the “blind brow” of the canal bridge and encountering the crossing immediately afterwards.

He said: “At the moment traffic stops and starts to move quickly, but there will be longer queues for the puffin crossing. Queueing traffic will have an impact on what is already a very complicated junction.”

James Williams, from Bradford Council’s major highways unit, said: “Numerous schoolchildren cross Kirkgate at this locality and a number of personal injury incidents have also been recorded.”