Fears that Kirklees Council is not fulfilling its ‘promise’ to provide a safe and direct route into Huddersfield have been voiced by a local cllr.
Works are currently underway on the Lockwood Bar scheme which involves constructing a new link road from Lockwood Road to Bridge Street, to separate the traffic stream from the traffic heading down Lockwood Road towards Meltham. The project will also ban direct turning movements between Lockwood Road and Bridge Street for cars but not for buses and bikes.
This comes as part of the £13.6m Huddersfield Southern Corridor Scheme which focuses on four areas: the A62 Queensgate, A616 Folly Hall, Longroyd Lane at A62 Manchester Road, and A616 Lockwood Road.
The council says the scheme will result in: a redesigned junction to help improve traffic flow; better journey times through Lockwood Bar; improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists; carriageway resurfacing and footway resurfacing; and better air quality for the local community. Though when it comes to making things better for cyclists, not everyone believes this to be the case.
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) said: “I’m concerned and disappointed that after the statement from the Deputy Leader of the Council earlier in the year, cyclists don’t seem to be getting a safe and direct route into Huddersfield through Lockwood as was promised. This is a very busy route for cyclists going to the town centre, university and businesses in the area, and to bypass the town centre and get to Leeds Road etc.
“The design we now see does not conform to the standards set out by government – ‘routes must feel direct, logical and be intuitively understandable by all road users’. It seems to conflict with government guidance that roads should only be designed by those who have experienced the road on a cycle.”
Image: Kirklees Council
Cllr Moses Crook, Kirklees Council Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Housing and Transport said: “The Huddersfield Southern Corridors Improvement Scheme, which Lockwood Bar is part of, was developed following a round of public consultation in 2019. This included both online engagement and a number of face-to-face drop-in sessions, where ward Cllrs, residents, businesses and interest groups were able to come along and discuss the proposals face to face with the project team.
“At that stage, views were sought on a wide range of aspects including cyclist provision. Feedback and comments raised within the consultation were taken into consideration. The plans currently being delivered are balanced with the needs of all highway users including pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and motorists.”
