Date set for decision on controversial Oakenshaw Cross move
Controversial plans to move the historic Oakenshaw Cross to a new location will be decided later this week.
The Grade II-listed cross was previously located at the junction of Wyke Lane, Cross Street, and Sykes Lane in Oakenshaw, but it was removed by the council in 2022 after being struck by several vehicles. It has remained in storage ever since.
The community has fought to try and get the cross repaired and reinstated in its original position but the council has other ideas.
The local authority submitted a planning application for retrospective consent for the removal of the cross and planning permission and listed building consent to reinstate it in a new location.
The council wants to site the cross on a grassy verge on Cross Street, which sits around 20 metres to the north/north-west of its original location.
These proposals will be determined by Kirklees Council’s District-wide planning committee at its meeting on Thursday (January 29).
The matter is being brought to the committee at the request of Cleckheaton ward councillor, John Lawson. This is due to the level of public interest in the future of the cross, its listed status and concerns that road safety issues haven’t been taken into account.
The council received 16 letters of objection in response to the plans, as well as four objections on its planning portal. One comment in support and one general comment were also received.
An objector said: “I want to see the monument reinstated in its original place on Wyke Lane/Cross Street/Sykes Lane. The issue is not the monument but the wagons/trucks who use the road irresponsibly.
"The farm traffic and bin wagon manage to negotiate the current bollards and have never had issues before the monument was removed.
“As a resident who lives next to the site, Kirklees Council needs to put it back in its original place and a one way traffic system implemented around it.
"Traffic up Wyke Lane from Bradford Road and traffic coming down Wyke Lane needs to turn left down Cross Street one way and the path widening outside the corner house to the monument to avoid traffic being allowed down Wyke Lane.
“The grass suggested for the installation of the cross needs to be changed to parking spaces for the Cross Street residents.”
A supporting document on behalf of the council says that the cross’ original location was given first preference but studies showed that this would pose a risk to the long-term conservation of the cross and cause “unacceptable” highways safety risks.
It is envisaged that the verge would act as a new “pocket park”, allowing for close interaction with the cross.
It concludes: “The proposed development has taken a considered view on the constraints and opportunities of the site, whilst seeking to provide a suitable long-term location for reinstatement of a designated heritage asset.
"A sensitively-designed scheme has been created to address the need to reinstate the cross and to conserve and enhance it, in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.