Plans for 900 new homes in the Westfield Lane area prompted concerns over a rise in traffic, sparking a study into how traffic levels could be controlled.

Its findings were presented at a meeting of Westfield Lane Improvement Area Board at Broad Lane Business Centre last Thursday. The study by AECOM, a support provider for transportation projects, recommended a £500,000 scheme to improve junctions onto Barnsley Road from Westfield Lane and High Street.

The project, which was favoured over building a £21.91m link road, would involve constructing a right-turn lane onto High Street, as well as widening the carriageway and installing a pedestrian crossing.

Traffic signals would be put on both junctions and the lower end of Westfield Lane would be turned into a one-way system incorporating Carlton Road. There would also be a contraflow cycle lane.

The study said the advantages would be better pedestrian and cycle accessibility and safety, and possible investment and regeneration opportunities for the town centre.

But Clive Staples, from AECOM, said traffic on Barnsley Road would increase by up to 40 per cent and would double on Carlton Road.

The study found a link road would reduce town centre traffic but was expensive, increased accident risk and could not be justified with predicted traffic flows.

District councillors Laurie Harrison and Harold Mills said the study would be analysed before decisions were made.

The report will be discussed at a Westfield Lane Improvement Area Board meeting on March 12.

At the meeting Eric Burkes, of Westfield Lane, South Elmsall, said: "I think a lot of concerns expressed have been overstated. The report is a good assessment."

But this week South Elmsall residents were split over how to reduce traffic in the town.

Julie Parrish, 37, of Lancelot Court, South Elmsall, said: "It's quite difficult to get across the road on market days, especially when you have children in a pushchair. It would be better with a crossing on Westfield Road."

But Ann Larkin, 46, of High Street, South Elmsall, said: "Signals and crossings would help, but they need to build a bypass.

"There's too much traffic on those roads. You can't park on market days. It's impossible to walk across the road."

An outline application for 200 homes at the Frickley pithead site and adjoining land, off Westfield Lane, is recommended for approval at a Wakefield Council planning meeting today.