A SCHEME to create improvements for pedestrians and to make a Guiseley road one way has attracted widespread feedback from local people.

Leeds City Council is inviting residents to come forward with their views about the proposals, which will create a pedestrian island on the A65 outside the Station Hotel as well as making Victoria Road a one-way street.

The council has written to residents asking for their comments on the proposed pedestrian infrastructure improvements and says it has had a significant amount of feedback so far.

Initial proposals, which included the provision of a zebra crossing in Victoria Road, alongside other proposals within the Oxford Road junction, drew a negative response from firms and residents.

The council is now consulting on a further compromise proposal to make Victoria Road one way, with traffic being directed in from the A65 Otley Road to just prior to the junction with Cavendish Road and prohibited in the opposing direction.

A letter to residents says: “This proposal has two direct benefits. The first is that there would be an increase in on-street parking availability. At present there are approximately 12 usable vehicular spaces on this section of Victoria Road. The new proposals will see 23 spaces, whilst keeping accesses clear. It would be proposed to keep these provisions as short term parking, but to provide the small number of residential properties on that immediate section of Victoria Road the opportunity to park within these bays.

“The second benefit of the scheme is that, by removing the need for vehicles to make the left turn manoeuvre from Victoria Road into the A65 Otley Road, we can feasibly provide a pedestrian refuge facility on the A65 Otley Road close to the junction.

“Previously, due to the physical constraints of the junction this was not possible without having the refuge an unfeasible distance from its desired and effective position, meaning pedestrians would still not use the refuge properly.

“By being in a position to provide that refuge, which also requires the change in proposals within the Oxford Road junction to one refuge and traffic passing to the left of that, we can provide an effective facility for pedestrians. By removing Victoria Road from the traffic signal sequencing at the wider A65 junction, there will be enough time within the sequence to provide a full complement of pedestrian facilities.

“The main disadvantage of the proposed one-way system would be that the residences and businesses within that area would only be able to access their premises via A65 Otley Road. Other road users that use this section of Victoria Road from the direction of Park Road will also be forced to find an alternative route to their destination.”

The scheme will be trialled first and then made permanent if successful.