Land purchase for A629 traffic scheme to be discussed by councillors

Plans for the road scheme, which will ease congestion on the A629 between Jubilee Road and the junction with Free School Lane in Halifax, were unveiled to the public in October 2015.

The next step is for the Council to negotiate the purchase of the land needed so that the road can be widened and discussions with local landowners on the route are currently underway.

The Cabinet is however being asked to approve the use of a compulsory purchase order, which would give the Council the power to purchase the land.

Councillor Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy said: “The Council’s preferred option is always to buy potential development land by negotiation.

“If this approach failed and the timetable for the A629 scheme was at risk of serious delay, our agreed multi-million-pound funding for the project could be jeopardised. We would then use the agreed powers of compulsory purchase”.

The proposals, which contain up to £4.5 million of improvements, include widening the highway and upgrading the traffic lights system to reduce journey times, easing traffic flow and improving air quality. There will also be improvements for pedestrians and cyclists.

Subject to approval, work is scheduled to start on site in autumn 2016. Construction will be phased along the road and is estimated to take around nine months.

Work on the three kilometre stretch of highway will be wholly funded by the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund, subject to approval by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. This is the first phase of a wider transport strategy, which includes proposals to improve the flow of traffic through Halifax town centre and the Calder and Hebble junction.

This first project represents £4.5m investment through the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Growth Deal – a £1 billion-plus package of investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

The Cabinet meeting will start at 6pm on Monday November 16 at Halifax Town Hall.