A road in Lindley is to become one-way and the main street will see the speed limit reduced to 20mph under plans to boost walking and cycling.

The surprise proposals have been published as part of wider plans to reduce congestion and speed up journey times in and around the A629 Halifax Road between Huddersfield and Halifax.

Details of the proposals – drawn up by Kirklees and Calderdale councils – have just been released for public consultation by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, which is funding the scheme.

The plans were first discussed back in 2019 but now, following initial public consultation, final proposals have been drawn up.

Local people have until November 23 to comment on the so-called ‘A629 phase 4’ proposals.

The proposals aim to make Lindley’s streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians and mean that:

  • Occupation Road will become one-way in the direction of Plover Road with a shared footway and cycleway;
  • Lidget Street will become a 20mph zone;
  • Road humps will be installed in Acre Street near the junction with Holly Bank Road and Brian Street;
  • The route through Daisy Lea Recreation Ground will be widened for shared use between walkers and cyclists;
  • A segregated cycle route will be created in Thornhill Road.
The detail of what is planned

Lindley Tory councillor Adam Gregg expressed surprise at the proposals and said the consultation didn’t spell out the changes clearly enough.

Clr Gregg said none of the detail – such as the one-way system for Occupation Road – was made obvious in the consultation.

It was only when people go into the documents and zoom into a diagram that the details were revealed.

Clr Gregg said that if the plans were given the green light, the scheme would see Occupation Road become one-way, removing vehicular access from Acre Street towards Thornhill Road.

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He added: “Whilst I urge local residents to have their say on the plans, the survey does appear designed to deliver the outcomes desired by the council.

“I have asked the council to modify the consultation to make it more transparent and to provide residents with more detailed information about the scheme and allow a much longer timeline for people to respond.

“I fully support active travel but we’ve got to get this right. Full awareness and thorough consultation will help do just that. I hope the council will listen to residents’ views on this.”

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On the one-way system Clr Gregg said: “I am concerned about the impact this will have on access to residents’ homes and on traffic volumes, particularly on Acre Street.

“Vehicles otherwise wishing to go down Occupation Road will be funnelled onto Acre Street towards the hospital, at an already congested point.”

In the ‘frequently asked questions’ section on the documents, the council says: “The route from Huddersfield town centre through Lindley to Ainley Top roundabout has changed since the previous consultation in 2019.

“The proposed route has been altered to avoid existing constraints along Lidget Street and St Stephen’s Fold. This will help provide safer cycling facilities along Occupation Street (sic) and Thornhill Road.”

The consultation can be found HERE.