'There is no point' - Pleas and petitions made to halt Bradford Road Transport Corridor revamp
Dewsbury residents and councillors are demanding a pause on new Bradford Road cycle lanes, branding the roadworks “absurd” and “beyond dangerous.”
Roadworks to improve the A652 Bradford Road transport corridor are expected to last for around 50 weeks, with construction currently underway.
The initial hope was the build would enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety along the route by introducing shared facilities for cyclists and pedestrians and creating a one-way system along Victoria Road and Rink Street.
But just months into construction, both residents and councillors have called for an urgent pause to the project, amid fears that the roadworks have made the new routes “beyond dangerous”, branding the move an “absurd” idea that “won’t work”.
Sharon McNulty, 59, has owned Grilled and Filtered for 22 years – but now, looking out at mounds of tarmac and “absurdly wide roads,” she fears for her business.
She said: “There is no way trade from the people on the job will cover the costs we are losing, now there is no street parking. It’s not what was promised to us at all, and I don’t think it will work.”
She also raised concerns that the cycle lanes were a “waste of time”.
The business owner added: “I have only ever seen two cyclists take this road. There is no point making the pavements this wide… All it will do is make the road more unsafe. It’s beyond dangerous now.”
This was echoed by the councillor for Batley East and group leader of the Kirklees Independents, Habiban Zaman, who has urged the council to revisit the plans for the road’s construction.
Despite being part of the Labour group that approved the initial plans, Coun Zaman warned she was not in favour of the road to begin with and actively voted against the corridor’s approval.
Now, Coun Zaman is hoping that the new Reform UK Cabinet and Kirklees Council will listen to the petition.
Coun Zaman said: “The traffic is chaos, there are parking issues, businesses are complaining – it’s affecting so many people.
“The Kirklees Independents Group are now asking for a pause, a review, and for the council to listen to residents”.
In response, Coun John Hardie, cabinet member for regeneration, highways and transport, said there were ongoing discussions between councillors.
Coun Hardie said: “We are well aware of the situation and I have been discussing it with one of the independent councillors. It is also being discussed at present within the cabinet.”
Kirklees Council were contacted for further comment.