Promises made for consultation over major Calderdale highway scheme

Calderdale Council’s Place Scrutiny Board agreed to release for implementation a Cabinet decision relating to compulsory purchase powers for the multi-million pound scheme which will see big changes along two main highways into Calderdale, from Ripponden to Halifax, along the A58/A672 and from Todmorden to Halifax along the A646/A6033 corridor.

But Ryburn councillors are particularly concerned about one proposal which they fear would bring more heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) into their village on a main highway close to a pelican crossing, a doctor’s surgery and a school.

Coun Geraldine Carter (Con, Ryburn) said it was a major concern, and in particular the proposition that HGVs would be allowed to turn round using a lay-by in the village centre as a turning circle was worrying in an area which had quite a high population of elderly people.

“I’m really struggling with the thought of HGVs turning here adjacent to a main highway in the centre of our village.

“I just cannot understand how that can be safe.

“I don’t think it’s been well thought out enough and ward councillors were not consulted enough,” she said.

Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), Cabinet member for Regeneration and Resources, said this was an initial stage with the next stage being the drafting of traffic regulation orders which required a full and detailed consultation on the scheme, including a full road safety audit.

“It is not intended to bring any more HGVs into the area, it is intended for occasional use of HGVs coming from the eastbound side,” she said.

Coun Steven Leigh (Con, Ryburn) said what we wanted to see was the compulsory purchase item relating to the ‘turning circle’ removed from the proposals and referred back to Cabinet for a “proper” consultation to be carried out.

Coun Josh Fenton-Glynn (Lab, Calder) said there would be a traffic regulation order consultation process so there was no need for it to be referred back and the proposal should be released for implementation.

The schemes are being delivered as part of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s (WYCA) West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund by the council and the authority.