Major Calderdale highway plans to go-ahead despite controversial changes

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet approved compulsory purchase orders for land which may be required to drive forward two major highways schemes when it met in virtual form this week, with the meeting streamed live on the council’s YouTube channel.

Calderdale Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority are planning big changes along the A58/A672 from Junction 22 Rishworth Moor of the M62 to King Cross in Halifax, and the A646/A6033 from Todmorden to Skircoat Moor, also at Halifax.

The council’s Deputy Leader, Coun Jane Scullion (Lab, Luddenden Foot) responded to some of the issues raised during public consultation into the plans.

She said the main reason parking on Burnley Road between Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd – cars usually park up near the turn-off to Hebden Bridge Rail Station – was likely to be ended was because larger vehicles, buses and HGVs, could not pass each other when cars were parked there and this delayed traffic coming in and out of Hebden Bridge.

The council also wanted to provide provision for cyclists she said.

But, she pledged: “The proposal is to remove that parking on Burnley Road but not until car parking in the same numbers is provided.”

For similar reasons a small number of spaces at Market Street, Hebden Bridge, would also have to go, said Coun Scullion, but loading bays would be placed there to serve businesses.

“I want to make it very clear that this isn’t just about reducing journey time.

“We would all like to see that, but just as importantly, it is about taking cars off the road where we possibly can, trying to encourage people to look at modal shift to other forms of transport, and it is about air quality,” said Coun Scullion.

Coun Adam Wilkinson (Lab, Sowerby Bridge) said he was pleased Cabinet had listened about concerns over Blackwall Lane in Sowerby Bridge and dropped that part of the proposal but it was still important to try and find a solution for concerns over removal of parking at Tower Hill.

Coun Geraldine Carter (Con, Ryburn) was very concerned about proposals which she feared would bring more heavy goods traffic along a road which housed a school, a library and a doctor’s surgery at Ripponden in her ward.

“I cannot believe these proposals enabling heavy goods access are representing the best interests of Ripponden.

“The last thing we want is more traffic along this rural road.

“It will have a profound effect on the lives of the residents of Ripponden – would you remove the proposal?” she said.

Coun Scullion said work on the eastbound section of that route would remain in the plans.

“It is not envisaged it will generate any additional HGVs,” she said.

Leader of the Council, Coun Tim Swift (Lab, Town) said the recommendations gave some flexibility for details.