A NEW paved footpath in Cullingworth could help children avoid traffic while walking to the primary school.

Cullingworth Village Council is considering giving money towards the cost from funds associated with its recently-created Neighbourhood Plan.

The path was among suggestions made at a recent meeting at the school to discuss parking issues in villages across the Bingley Rural area.

The 90-metre path would run from Halifax Road through the recreation ground to a back gate of the school, acting as a shortcut for parents and children walking from the lower down the village.

The school has set aside £2,000 towards the project, but Bradford Council cannot afford to contribute cash. The clerk of the Village Council will ask Bradford Council whether it can contribute.

At a recent Village Council meeting, councillors heard that a number of concerns had been raised during the parking issues meeting.

In Cullingworth it was felt that parents needed educating on parking. Suggestions included talking to parents of new reception children, teachers patrolling in hi viz jackets, ‘naming and shaming’ parents who continually parked illegally, and reporting problems like block driveways and lacking in zigzags to police or council wardens.

The Village Council will also look at spending Neighbourhood Plan money on new dog-mess bins.

Councillors have received requests for dog bins at the junction of Greenside Lane with Hallas Lane, and the bottom of Turf Lane.

The village’s ‘lengthsman’, or street cleaner, has agreed to empty a bin if it is put in Greenside Lane.

Both lanes are unadopted, so the council clerk will contact Bradford Council highways department to check if permission is needed to install the bins.

Several local parish councils have prepared Neighbourhood Plans, looking at future development in their villages, following extensive consultation with residents.

Having a Neighbourhood Plan attracts extra cash to villages from housing developers, to spend on community improvement schemes.