Bradford Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have announced plans for a South Bradford Link Road to move traffic away from Tong Street.
Bradford Council has claimed that a new road could “improve travel times, attract more business and “unlock” land for 2,500 new homes”.
Matt Edwards has raised a number of concerns with the contradictory statements in the Council’s announcement: “The headline in the T&A on 5th June was ‘£64 million link road plan to beat congestion in South Bradford’ – It was clear that this road was being sold to the public as a way of clearing congestion on Tong Street.
“However in the Council’s report, it clearly states the road would “help address congestion on existing routes and contribute to improved connectivity in south east Bradford.
“But when you look closer at the plans, they also announced their intention to free up land to build around 2,500 new homes – about the size of another Holmewood.
An exact route for the road hasn’t been announced but it is likely the road will continue from the end of the Drighlington By-pass through the Tong Valley, past Holmewood towards Dick Lane.
At this stage, it isn’t clear if this road will cut through Tyersal or cut between Tyersal and Pudsey.
“Bradford Council needs to be honest about what this road is for”
THE VIEW OF MATT EDWARDS
“It was clear that this road was being sold to the public as a way of clearing congestion on Tong Street. In the Council’s report , it clearly states the road would “help address congestion on existing routes and contribute to improved connectivity in south east Bradford.”
But when you look closer at the plans, they also announced their intention to free up land to build around 2,500 new homes – about the size of another Holme Wood.
However, at the meeting that approved the funding on 11th June, Alex Shaw-Ross, the Labour councillor in charge of regeneration, said that this road was not just about reducing congestion – it was about regeneration (i.e. building more houses).
So which is it? Bradford Council are not being honest at the moment.
We can and must redesign our economy and society to meet the needs of everyone for food, shelter, care, health, dignity and financial security, irrespective of employment or nationality.”
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