Council to chip in £1.5m for former pit site road

The Department of Transport has agreed to put £4.1m towards the cost of constructing the Northern Link Road in Pontefract, which would link Park Road with Skinner Road.

But to access the cash, Wakefield Council must contribute £1.48m towards the cost of the new road – which is considered a key element of plans to build homes on the former Prince of Wales Colliery site.

Wakefield Council will be urging the Leeds City Region for the West Yorkshire Transport Fund to contribute towards or fully fund the council’s costs.

Councillors will be asked to approve spending £1.48m on the link road scheme when the council’s cabinet committee meets next Tuesday.

Harworth Estates has started development work ahead of 10-year scheme transform the former Prince of Wales Colliery site into a new community of almost 1,000 new homes plus businesses and shops.

Wakefield Council’s leader, Coun Peter Box, said: “Agreeing to fund this contribution ensures that we bring this funding from the Local Pinch Point grant into the district and secure the Northern Link Road for Pontefract.

“The new road will help ease traffic congestion in Pontefract and improve the local transport infrastructure.

“It will improve capacity on Park Road and Town End junction and increase access to junction 32 of the M62. It will also unlock housing and development opportunities in Pontefract.

“Our contribution will be paid from existing budget allocations whilst we seek additional funding to repay this.”