COUNCILLORS have unanimously agreed to name a street after war hero Flt Lt David Stead.

Bradford Council's Shipley Area Committee considered the request when it met on Wednesday, March 8 to name a road on the Sun Lane development at Burley-in-Wharfedale after the brave airman who lost his life in 2005.

Councillor Bob Felstead (Con, Wharfedale) put forward the idea, after consulting with Flt Lt Stead’s parents, who live in Burley-in-Wharfedale.

Cllr Felstead wrote in a report to the committee that one of the 47 streets on the development at Sun Lane should be “named after David Stead, to recognise his contribution to Queen and Country, and to all those he has helped in Afghanistan.”

Former Ilkley Grammar School pupil Flt Lt Stead, whose ambition to become a pilot was sparked as a member of Ilkley-based 1224 (Wharfedale) Squadron Air Training Corps, was the captain of a mission in 2002 to fly a Special Forces Hercules aircraft to Kandahar, Afghanistan, to evacuate a number of casualties - including children - during the long-running conflict.

The RAF aircraft hit bad weather and was advised to abort the operation, but Flt Lt Stead pushed on and rescued a number of people.

His plane was shot down on a 2005 flight close to Baghdad, and the 35-year-old lost his life along with nine other military personnel. Flt Lt Stead was posthumously awarded the Air Force Cross in December 2005 for his actions.

Cllr Felstead said: "I brought the matter to Bradford Council with a recommendation to name a street, recognising David Stead’s outstanding service not only to Queen and Country but also to recognise his commitment to saving Afghan lives.

"Proposals were introduced at the Shipley Area Committee on March 8th which I attended. Item 8 was discussed, and the committee unanimously agreed to approve the proposal to name a street at Sun Lane- ‘David Stead Crescent’.

"I contacted David’s parents during the meeting, expressing how ‘chuffed’ I was for the whole Stead family, including his wife and two children. Their response - 'wow! so pleased and so many thanks to you and Air Cadets for making it happen, we’re quite overwhelmed'.

"This is a great piece of news, and a legacy to recognise David’s achievements.

"I will, of course, ensure that David’s family and the Lord Mayor, officially open David Stead Crescent when the time comes, and provide all detail to the Burley Archive."