Views wanted on infamous junction
CALDERDALE Council is to ask residents for their views on how to improve congestion at one of West Yorkshire’s most notorious junctions – Hipperholme Crossroads.
For years councillors have looked at schemes to improve the junction but nothing has come of any of them.
It sees five major roads coming together – Halifax Road, Denholme Gate Road, Brighouse Road, Leeds Road and Wakefield Road.
Deputy mayor of Calderdale and Brighouse councillor since 2008, Clr Howard Blagbrough, (Con and Unionist), said: “It’s a very complicated junction and there are no easy solutions but it does desperately need some intervention. People avoid it like the plague if they possibly can.”
He added that there were all kinds of major business and residential developments in the area set to come on stream over the next few years which could see traffic delays intensified in the area.
And a 34-year-old mum who recently moved to a house just doors away from the junction said: “I’m from Essex and so I am used to queues of traffic and delays but this is worse than Essex.
“If you want to nip out to the local Tesco for example it’s painful.”
And a middle-aged woman who lives close by added: “I have lived her for 20 years and I don’t think people care anymore, it has been going on so long.”
Residents and businesses in and around Hipperholme, Northowram, Shelf and the wider northeast Calderdale area are being asked to share their thoughts on how transport and the local environment could be improved.
The council says it is exploring new ideas for potential improvements, with a view to securing future funding to address transport-related issues in the area.
Hipperholme crossroads as well as the junctions at Stump Cross and Stone Chair are notoriously busy resulting in traffic congestion, delays and air quality issues.
Over the next 12 months, the council plans to develop and submit a proposal to seek further funding to help improve travel and enhance accessibility and connectivity for all modes of transport.
Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Strategy, Clr Jane Scullion, said: “We want to improve transport and travel options for people living and working in Hipperholme and surrounding areas and understand and address current issues experienced.
“This work is at an early stage, but it’s important that any proposals are shaped by local people who best understand the issues experienced in this area.
“We’re asking people to get in touch and share their experiences and suggestions for improvements to help inform bids to fund improvement proposals.”
People can have their say at https://hipperholmeandnortheastcalderdale.commonplace.is. Alternatively, people can email transportplanning@sweco.co.uk
The closing date for feedback is Monday, December 20.