WORK is scheduled to start late next year on a multi-million pound scheme to transform a notorious Keighley bottleneck into dual carriageway.

Council bosses said this week they were in "active negotiations" with landowners in preparation for the £7 million Hard Ings Road project.

Small parcels of land are needed alongside the northern edge of the road, in front of several business premises.

Talks began earlier this year over the areas concerned, which are mostly grass verges, embankments and concrete frontages.

Highways officers have also revealed that an environmental impact assessment won't be necessary for the scheme.

It follows a request to the planning authority for a so-called screening opinion.

A council spokesman said: "A screening was carried out in 2015 but this has been revisited in light of new Government guidance.

"The latest opinion we have been given confirms the earlier ruling that this development does not need an environmental impact assessment."

Campaigners have long been pressing for the stretch of road, between the Victoria Park and Beechcliffe roundabouts, to be expanded into dual carriageway.

In addition to the road widening, there would be a signalised pedestrian crossing near the Lawkholme Lane junction.

And a new set of traffic lights would be installed at the Beechcliffe roundabout.

A two-way cycle and pedestrian path is also planned, together with landscaping.

A month-long public consultation was held last year, including a drop-in session at Victoria Hall, so people could view the plans and submit comments.

The proposals have been generally welcomed.

But concerns were voiced about the inclusion of traffic lights and it was claimed the scheme should form part of wider jam-busting measures in the town.

Keighley Central councillor, Khadim Hussain, said: "I am extremely sceptical about the benefits of traffic lights, which if not planned meaningfully can simply counteract any improvements in vehicle flows and actually create hold-ups."

Work on the project has a target completion date of no later than 2019-20.

Other initiatives currently underway, designed to improve traffic flows in Keighley, include the provision of a third lane in North Street – alongside the site of the recently-demolished college building – to help traffic turning left into Cavendish Street.

It also intended to create an extra lane along North Street between Cavendish Street and the High Street junction.