Calderdale Council yet to find any projects to scrap so it can save cash, FOI reveals
Calderdale Council has not yet identified any projects to scrap in order to save money – despite what its leader has pledged.
Councillor Daniel Sutherland – who became leader when Reform took over the council in May – said at September’s cabinet meeting that some of the authority’s capital schemes were being amended and some would not be going ahead, to save money.
Speaking at the meeting, where senior councillors green lighted a new corporate plan, he also said the next council budget would include “significant savings".
Local authority capital schemes are long-term investment projects.
The Courier asked Calderdale Council, via a Freedom of Information request, which of the council's capital schemes will now not be taken forward.
The response was: “At present, no capital schemes have been identified for discontinuation.”
The Courier also asked what amendments had been made to capital schemes, and whether the ones Coun Sutherland spoke of included to the work currently ongoing to overhaul the roads at the bottom of Halifax town centre.
Calderdale Reform announced on its Facebook page at the beginning of September that some changes had been made to that project, but the party was not clear about what they were.
The FOI response said: “As part of the review into highways works across the borough, we are assessing major projects planned or underway in Calderdale, including Phase 2 of the A629 scheme in Halifax town centre.
"We want to make sure any works bring the desired benefits and align with local people’s priorities.
"As with all major infrastructure projects, schemes are continually reviewed throughout their development and delivery to ensure they remain aligned with emerging priorities and needs, and to help optimise the overall benefits they deliver.”
The response confirmed that the project team “is in the process of developing proposals to accommodate the removal of the bus gate which was planned for part of Charles Street”.
And it said: “We are in discussions with the combined authority about this change.”
No official Calderdale Council public communication about the amendment to the Charles Street plan has been made, and the Calderdale Next Chapter website – which lists all the plans – still says: “We’re adding a bus gate to limit access to buses, cycles, taxis and motorcycles only along a section of Charles Street between Square Road and King Street.
"Access to Woolshops Car Park will be maintained. The exit from Woolshops car park on Hatters Fold will be right turn only onto Square Road.”
Schemes funded by West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) – such as Halifax town centre one - are delivered within an agreed tolerance framework, which allows for certain changes to be made during the implementation stage of a project.
The Courier understands WYCA is aware of a proposed change from Calderdale Council in relation to the Halifax town centre scheme and is currently reviewing the change against that tolerance framework.
Work on a huge traffic overhaul which will transform how people travel around Halifax town centre began in 2024 and has been ongoing ever since.
The current phase of work, at the bottom of the town centre, started in April and is due to be completed in Autumn 2027.