ILKLEY district councillor Kyle Green is calling on Bradford Council to invest in children and young people by improving road safety and encouraging active travel measures to schools in the area.

Having already worked with Moorfield School to improve parking, as well as campaigning with Ilkley Grammar School leadership for a new zebra crossing on Cowpasture Road, Cllr Green (Con, Ilkley) is now calling for more targeted measures.

Residents have highlighted safety concerns around Easby Drive and Cllr Green wants to see this area provided with improved road markings to make it safer for all road users, as well as a new pedestrian refuge area on the A65 to help improve safety for families crossing the road. He is also calling for better signage to make drivers aware a school is in the vicinity.

Cllr Green is also keen to see safety improvements such as 20mph signs timed for school pick up and drop off times outside Ben Rhydding Primary School, something he says is especially important given the need to improve the dangerous crossing between Bolling Road and Manley Road. Finally, as part of a plan to help encourage more active travel to and from school and help support clean air initiatives, Cllr Green is keen to see a new footpath created on the field between Ashlands Primary School and Sacred Heart Primary School to encourage families to use this route rather than walking along a busy stretch of Little Lane or the A65. This idea has received support from both schools and would help to make the field usable in all weather conditions.

Councillor Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, at Bradford Council said: “Road safety and active travel are important priorities for the council and discussions have been taking place to determine potential projects for future funding rounds across the whole district.

“Through the Emergency Active Travel fund in Ilkley alone we have delivered a school crossing on Cowpasture Road for people going to Ilkley Grammar School and introduced traffic lights at the bridge on Wheatley Lane in Ben Rhydding.

“We’ve also invested in cycle parking facilities in addition to the recent surfacing of the South Hawksworth Street car park. We’ve also upgraded the street lights and installed an electric vehicle charging point at the car park.

“We’re aware of the schools’ request for a footpath through the adjacent field and residents’ concerns regarding school-time traffic on Easby Drive and will consider them in due course.

“There is potential to make use of the government’s Emergency Active Travel Fund and the Return to Highstreets Safely Fund and we will work with Parish and Town Councils to achieve the best possible outcome. Once we know how much money we have successful secured from the funds, we can determine the most suitable schemes and will liaise with partners and stakeholders accordingly.”