JOBS and lives will be put at risk by a new bus depot in Keighley, claim bosses of companies sharing the access road.

The business owners fear there will be frequent traffic delays, parking problems and pedestrian hazards as buses, lorries, vans and cars vie for space on Marriner Road.

They believe the dozens of buses passing each day could obstruct the entrances of their own premises, affecting trade and resulting in job losses.

The bosses spoke out after Bradford Council planners this month overruled their concerns and gave planning permission for bus company Transdev to build the depot.

Transdev applied to transform the stone yard in Marriner Road, off Worth Way, into storage for the 55 school buses that it uses daily across the Keighley area.

Dozens of buses will leave or return during four 90-minute periods throughout the day.

Council officers told the planning committee that the site was established as business use, and although there was potential for “occasional conflict” with other vehicles, there was no sustainable reason to refuse the plans.

The businesses’ concerns – outlined to the meeting – included on-street street parking, access for deliveries and customers, and narrowness of the road.

Now three of the bosses have approached the Keighley News: Stephen Mears of S&J Civils Ltd, Tony Jenkins of Jenkins Carpets, and Stuart Booth of Allied Storage.

Mr Jenkins said: “It’s only a matter of time before someone is killed or seriously injured. The road will become a major hazard.

“Buses cannot traverse Marriner Road without causing vehicles to take the path to avoid collision. It is a heavy pedestrian walkway with many children using it unaccompanied.”

Mr Jenkins said the road was already blocked several times a day with existing vehicles, but the added use of buses would affect deliveries and access for emergency vehicles.

He added: “We already struggle with customers coming to us because the road is busy and there is no parking. Ultimately, we will be making carpet fitters redundant because we won’t be able to get enough business.”

Mr Mears branded the councillors’ decision as “ludicrous and poorly thought-out”, claiming hundreds of bus movements each would affect his ability to get his 60 employees in and out with vehicles and equipment.

He said: “This is going to strangle my business. Just one six-metre bus waiting to pull out into Worth Way near Morrisons could hold up traffic in and out, creating major traffic issues.

“Such a high volume of traffic is an accident waiting to happen. Marriner Road has six established businesses, and residential properties at the other end.”

A Bradford Council spokesman Keighley Area Planning Panel approved the application after in-depth discussions on all the relevant planning issues, particularly in relation to highways congestion and safety impacts.

He added: “The application was carefully considered in line with strict national and local regulations. All the relevant information was made available via the Council’s website.”

Transdev did not wish to make comment at this time.