Big boost to road safety in Bailiff Bridge

Calderdale Council has set aside £10,000 in the Intergrated Transport Programme for a feasibility survey to be conducted after scores of residents signed a petition calling for action to be taken.

Councillor Graham Hall (Con, Hipp/Light) said he was pleased to see money has finally been set aside despite all the cuts being made and to look into what can be done to improve the crossroads.

“I am really pleased that it has found its way into the programme and to look at the problems. The petition all came about when a woman was knocked over when crossing over from the school.

“I was told that a lot of elderly residents were that scared to cross over the road they would get the bus into Brighouse and do a circular journey and get off at the other side.
“With all the extra houses that have been built a lot more children have been crossing the road.

“I have been asking questions at meetings and speaking the officers so they didn’t forget about it and I am happy they are now going to take a look at it.”

The petition handed into the Council in 2012 and was drawn up by resident Laura Nalson and saw over a thousand supporters.

Residents who backed the campaign were calling for a pedestrian signal control at each section of the traffic lights in a bid to improve the daily nightmare faced by people trying to cross.

The villagers claim that people trying to cross Bradford Road, Birkby Lane and Wakefield Road crossroads are “dicing with death”.

Ward Councillor David Kirton (Con) added: “I am really happy the crossroads are going to be looked at.

“The crossroads are very busy and it isn’t that far behind the ones in Hipperholme.

“The residents have been pushing for this for some time.”

At the time a council spokesman said a recent estimate to provide full signal control and remove the existing pedestrian crossing was in excess of £200,000.