Radical plan forming part of £120m Halifax transformation scheme gets the go-ahead

The second phase of five designed to improve the A629 linking Halifax and Huddersfield, Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee approved the proposals today (Tuesday, June 16) and now a full business case will be submitted to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in July.

Work will see public space developed, pedestrianisation of Market Street and parts of Commercial Street and Northgate, better bus and rail interchanges, highway widening and junction improvements, and creation of a “bus box” to improve services.

The scheme should have been considered last summer but the Grade II listing of the former Hughes Corporation bar building, which was to have been demolished, meant the plans had to be taken back to the drawing board.

Councillors were happier with the new proposals and after they had questioned officers on aspects, Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) proposed the plans be approved.

“I think it’s far better than the original plan.

“I am happy to see the changes with this proposal,” he said.

Coun David Kirton (Con, Hipperholme and Lightcliffe) agreed: “I am pleased that now we have got the building safe,” he said.

Officers said other major changes creation of public space at the Eastern Gateway and 22 parking spaces being kept at Bull Green albeit in remodelled form.

Councillors heard the plans will rebalance balance traffic between eastern and western sides of town and the development was sustainable, would help build the economy, bring health benefits and improve the environment and social regeneration of town and borough.

If the infrastructure was there more electric vehicle charging points could be provided and the joint use routes met requirements and used materials which would help people with impairments, officers said.

Coun Paul Bellenger (Lib Dem, Greetland and Stainland) was concerned that there should still be vehicular access to Woolshops and was told this was the case although there would be road layout changes.

Coun Stephen Baines (Con, Northowram and Shelf) asked if businesses had been consulted and how employment might be affected.

Programme Manager for the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund at Calderdale Council, Richard Binks, said they had, resulting in the parking spaces being saved at Bull Green.

Coun Jenny Lynn (Lab, Park) had concerns about more traffic being relocated to the western side of town and hoped to see better pedestrian links between her ward and the town centre from Gibbet Street, although she was happy to see the “ghastly” underpasses at Pellon Lane.

Coun Colin Hutchinson (Lab, Skircoat) was disappointed with inclusion of only two electric charging points in the parking spaces at Bull Green and also had concerns about routes which would be shared by cyclists and pedestrians with regard to pedestrians who might have visual or hearing impairments.

“I’m going to ask that in the more detailed design stages coming that consultation be had with people with sensory impairments about the design of the shared routes,” he said.