Huddersfield Unlimited (HU), a business-led organisation that stands for the town of Huddersfield, representing its businesses, promoting investment and working towards greater prosperity for its diverse communities, is giving local residents the opportunity to have their say on improving transport links in the town.
Partnering with the Huddersfield Civic Society, HU has helped develop an interactive platform, whereby users can access a map of Huddersfield, pin a specific location on the map and leave direct feedback on the local infrastructure for transport and how it can be made more efficient, safer and greener.
The tool itself has been designed by Create Streets, specialists in supporting the creation of healthy communities and neighbourhoods, to encourage people living in Huddersfield to have direct impact on one of Huddersfield Unlimited’s major objectives, which is to promote connectivity across the area through the best transport links, to further enhance the appeal of the historic Yorkshire town.
HU welcomes all feedback, but in the first instance is seeking to use the tool to focus on how to improve major transport infrastructure when walking, cycling or using public transport along the A629, or roads parallel, between Marsh, Lindley, Birkby and Huddersfield town centre.
Whether it’s highlighting road surfaces that could be improved or suggesting new bus or cycle lanes, HU wants to hear from all local transport users to build up an idea of what action needs to be taken to ensure the safest, most efficient and environmentally friendly routes around the area.
It is the intention of the organisation to use this direct data from the public to collate a powerful message to share with the relevant authorities and spark tangible change and improvements to the areas that need it most.
Leah Stuart, the newly-appointed chair of the Huddersfield Unlimited Transport & Connectivity Group, said: “Huddersfield is strategically the best-connected place in the North of England and deserves to be a thriving hub.
“The HU transport group will support Kirklees Council, local communities and businesses in championing an overall vision of a flourishing town, which proactively plans for the future we want.
“Huddersfield needs to be an attractive place to live and work for people of all ages and abilities. It needs a joined-up plan to make it easier, safer and more enjoyable to walk, cycle and use public transport, as well as a functional network for moving goods and services, capitalising on its proximity to the strategic transport network.
“The Create Streets tool is a fantastic way of reaching out so that we can get a collective understanding of what ‘good looks like’. We need to hear from a diverse range of people to understand how we can better meet needs. Huddersfield Unlimited have a role in facilitating this wider conversation to make connections between the public, private and third sectors.
“By working together, we can create a better, more sustainable and resilient future and we look forward to hearing from our local residents and collaborating together to make a positive impact on the town.”
For more information on how you can have your say on transport across Huddersfield, access the Create Streets tool: https://communities.createstreets.com/HuddersfieldUnlimited
The closing date for responses is Sunday June 19.