RESIDENTS and councillors calling for cameras to deter speeding drivers in Ilkley have been given fresh hope after officers agreed to review strict criteria needed before camera installation can be considered.

The move comes after Bradford Council's Keighley Area Committee discussed a petition from Ilkley residents calling for the introduction of speed cameras or speed humps along Cowpasture Road - a road which residents have described as 'a race track'.

The petitioners said: "Due to Cowpasture Road being one of the main roads into Ilkley town centre, there is a distinct problem with speeding cars which is ever-increasing. As a residential area, this impacts both residents and the children who attend the Ilkley Grammar school. The day to day impact includes noise and vibrations from vehicles and near-misses of those attempting to cross the road. It is only a matter of time until a serious accident takes place."

At the meeting Bradford Council officers advised that while current rules mean that speed cameras are not currently eligible to be installed on Cowpasture Road, there is now a chance these rules are going to be amended to allow more proactive measures to be taken on camera placement. Bradford Council officers are due to report back on if this will make speed camera installation possible on Cowpasture Road.

The criteria for speed cameras is set by the West Yorkshire Casualty Prevention Partnership, a body which includes Bradford Council, the police and other partners.

The current criteria for static cameras includes at least four collisions causing death or serious injury in the previous five complete years prior to commissioning of the site.

Council records indicate that two traffic collisions resulting in personal injury have occurred on Cowpasture Road during the five-year period ending 12 May 2022 (the latest five-year period for which records are available). One personal injury was ‘serious’ and the other ‘slight in terms of severity.

Councillor Kyle Green (Con, Ilkley) and Councillor Andrew Loy (Con, Ilkley) are among those who have been calling for speed cameras on the road.

Cllr Green said he was pleased to have confirmation that further action is due to be undertaken to investigate speed cameras being installed on Cowpasture Road.

He said: "It is great news that we are hopefully moving from reactive to proactive measures to assess where speed cameras can be placed. Recent incidents have further reinforced the need to reduce speeding on Cowpasture Road and it is vital action is taken before a tragedy occurs."

Cllr Loy said: "Several residents have raised speed cameras on Cowpasture Road as a priority and I am keen to see progress on this. It is unacceptable to have to wait until four people are injured or killed before cameras are installed, so I am pleased to see that council officers are now considering the proposal."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) spoke at the meeting saying: "I put the standard point that is made to me forward 'do we have to have a death before anything is done to stop racing?' also 'the only thing that stops speeding is the thought of getting caught by speed cameras'.

"It was accepted by the officer that the criteria was too rigid and needed amending. He agreed to put the case for change to the group responsible.

"It was agreed by committee that Cowpasture Road should have 20mph introduced - but without policing it is pretty pointless."

Councillors were also assured that work is being undertaken to address the failure to change speed limits on Hangingstone Road to bring it into line with the recent change to 30mph on Moor Road. Cllrs Green and Loy said this oversight had been a contributing factor to a number of vehicles entering Ilkley and Ben Rhydding at speed.

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “West Yorkshire Safety Camera Partnership which includes Bradford Council, the police and other partners is reviewing the criteria for safety camera installation. No completion date has been set for this. The partnership will let people know once it has been finalised.

“Considering a camera for any location requires a full review of the road safety priorities for the whole district. In the meantime, the partnership has agreed to include Cowpasture Road in the 20mph zone for Ilkley. We will also lower the speed limit on Hangingstone Road and Moor Road to 30mph.”