Halifax Courier

Transformi­ng our highways to help cyclists and walkers

- Ian Hirst

CALDERDALE COUNCIL, in partnershi­p with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, is asking for feedback on plans for a roads revolution in north and west Halifax.

The changes look to encourage options for making trips on foot, bicycle, scooter or bus.

The areas included are around Dean Clough, Lee Mount, Ovenden and Illingwort­h in north Halifax and on and around Gibbet Street, Queen’s Road, Hanson Lane, Parkinson Lane and the Beech Hill estate around west Halifax.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regenerati­on and

Strategy, Councillor Jane Scullion, said: “Choosing to make trips on foot, by bicycle or public transport is not only beneficial for our health, but also is an important part of our work to tackle the climate emergency.

“We want to support people to choose these methods of travel and our plans for north and west Halifax look at ways in which we can make walking and cycling more appealing.

“The areas where improvemen­ts are proposed are relatively close to the town centre, but currently have few facilities for walking and/or cycling.

“We’ve developed the latest designs using feedback from local people who know these areas better than anyone and we’re asking people to have their say on these amended proposals.

“The feedback we receive as part of this consultati­on will be used as part of the developmen­t of final designs, to ensure the proposals meet the needs of local people.”

The designs have been developed following a feedback exercise earlier this year, with several changes made to previous designs.

WHAT where?

Proposals for north Halifax include:

* A new segregated cycleway from North Halifax to Halifax town centre

* Improved pavements and

IS

being

proposed crossing points for walking and cycling

* Wider pavements and speed restrictio­ns to better support walking and cycling * Improved green spaces * Improved lighting and planting in some snickets and under bridges

These proposals take into account feedback from previous consultati­ons which showed strong support for a cycling route between Halifax town centre and Keighley Road and for wider pavements.

Proposals for west Halifax include:

* Improved walking routes between Halifax town centre and Gibbet Street

* Additional parking bays to address issues with pavement parking

* One-way systems to reduce conflict on narrow streets and improve bus reliabilit­y

* Turning restrictio­ns for some vehicles on Queen’s Road to improve safety and access to local shops

* Improvemen­ts to planting, seating areas and access to bus stops, as well as new crossing points

Councillor Manisha Kaushik, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Lead Member for Active Travel, said:“From connecting us with the places we need to go, to tackling congestion, improving air quality and boosting our physical and mental health, we know getting more people walking and cycling will help make our region an even better place to live, work and play.”

People are being asked to look at the revised plans and share their feedback.

The proposals are being delivered in partnershi­p with funding from two of the Combined Authority’s programmes, the Transformi­ng Cities Fund and Streets for People, both of which are aimed at making it easier for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.

Feedback on proposals can be submitted until December 19 2021. Those who do not have access to the website can contact West Yorkshire Combined Authority via Metroline on 0113 245 7676 for a printed copy of the designs and survey along with a freepost envelope.

We’ve developed the designs using feedback from people who know the areas better than anyone

WHAT DO YOU THINK

What do you think about the transport plans for north and west Halifax?

Contact us via EMAIL/ONLINE/TWITTER

 ?? ?? IMPROVEMEN­TS: How Gladstone Road could look
IMPROVEMEN­TS: How Gladstone Road could look

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom