After demanding urgent action from the council, local councillors say they are delighted that vehicles will soon be banned from travelling along a section of Fleet Lane.

Councillor Keith Wakefield and James Lewis believe that banning vehicles from a 1,000-metre section of Fleet Lane will not only improve the environment for local people but will also save the council thousands of pounds which are currently spent on clearing up rubbish dumped along the highway.

In recent years councillors have raised regular concerns about the environmental and financial costs of persistent fly-tipping on Fleet Lane.

In one year alone the council's Environmental Action Team spent over £11,000 on monthly clear-up operations, which Coun Wakefield branded "entirely unacceptable." Alongside the persistent fly-tipping stolen cars have also been left by the highway.

Councillor Wakefield and Lewis have welcomed the planned Movement Restriction Order which will see lockable gates installed at the end of each section of the road that vehicles are allowed to travel along. Pedestrian, equestrian and cycle access will be maintained for the entire length of the lane, as will access for farm, postal and emergency vehicles.

Coun Wakefield (Kippax & Methley) said: "After demanding action from the council for so long, I am delighted that the Movement Restriction Order will finally address some of the awful problems we have been seeing on Fleet Lane.

"Vehicle access along this stretch of highway is currently enabling unscrupulous people to regularly dump their waste, which is causing environmental damage. On top of that, the cost to the council of clearing up this rubbish is entirely unacceptable."

Coun Lewis (Kippax & Methley) said: "I am delighted that local people will soon see a significant reduction in the level of waste left along
this section of Fleet Lane.

"It is great news that finally the council has listened to our concerns. Restricting vehicle access will make a real difference to the area and I look forward to seeing the gates installed."