Drivers using Calderdale 'rat-run' making residents' lives a misery

Jumples Crag, Mixenden, Halifax, residents had been told action would be considered earlier in the summer but are unhappy with measures which Calderdale Council has said it might be able to introduce.

Progress is not being made, they said, and have submitted to the council a 24-hour filmed breakdown of traffic passing their homes which showed 2,568 vehicles ranging from cars and small vans to Heavy Goods Vehicles between 19.01pm on July 9 and 19.00pm on July 10.

At the peak time between 7am and 7pm, their filmed findings show a vehicle passing their homes on the narrow road, which has no footpath so they are passing right by, on average every 20.41 seconds, said one of the residents, Clare Simeunovich.

Clare said things were at an impasse and the council’s suggestion of speed bumps was unsuitable because of the noise traffic makes going over them.

“At a road safety meeting they were still talking about humps and bumps.

“It’s not suitable because it’s a tiny little road which narrows down to four metres so cars can’t pass.

“The traffic going past is shaking the camera.

“It is 24 hours a day, so it is relentless.

“We feel total frustration,” she said.

Data was recorded during lockdown and with the return to schools and work and a new nearby housing estate on the horizon, they fear traffic levels could double ther survey return, said Clare.

And recently when an incident closed off a major flyover route in Halifax, the result was ten hours of traffic noise outside their homes, she said, with three accidents on the road at Jumples Crag itself since June.

Pinch points mean traffic often has to queue and reverse to navigate through when vehicles meet, say the residents.

Residents are still asking for either the road to be made “access only”, their preferred option, or speed cameras introduced, which would mean the route is as unappealing as others to drivers who are looking to avoid restrictions.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet member for Regeneration and Strategy, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot), said the council was listening to concerns.

“The latest figures from the residents’ own traffic count show the number of vehicles using Jumples Crag in Mixenden at less than four vehicles per minute during the peak period and over the last five years there have been no accidents resulting in injury.

“However, we’re continuing to listen to residents’ concerns about the volume of traffic using the road and discussions have been taking place involving both the council and West Yorkshire Police.

“As part of our development work, we will also be carrying out our own traffic count, which will confirm to us the amount and type of vehicles using the road.

“This will help us ascertain the scale of the problem and inform scheme design,” she said.

A lorry pictured by residents passing homes at Jumples Crag, Mixenden, Halifax