Claims by Bradford Council and West Yorkshire transport bosses that government criteria is preventing the Shipley Eastern Bypass going ahead are not true, a government minister has said.
Transport Minister Andrew Jones said officials from the Department for Transport will arrange a meeting with the council and West Yorkshire Combined Authority to get the long-awaited scheme going and give people the “investment they need”.
The announcement came after Shipley MP Philip Davies raised the issue in Parliament.
Mr Davies said: “The case for a Shipley Eastern Bypass was first mentioned in the Airedale Plan many years ago. The Government say it is a matter for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council say the government rules on return on investment make this scheme an impossibility.”
He urged the minister to get everyone together to make sure the scheme can “become a reality for the benefit of my constituents and the local economy.”
Mr Jones said he was “fully aware of the merits of this scheme” and would make sure it was sorted out.
He added: “There is no reason why the government mechanisms for approval are holding back schemes in Bradford, because there are schemes progressing all over the country. I will make sure that Bradford knows what to do and therefore the people of Bradford see the investment they need.”
Mr Davies has long campaigned for the local scheme.