Your Opportunity To Mark Road Safety Issues On Map

Safe streets for walking and cycling

West Yorkshire Combined Authority - flocktonbypass.co.uk

WYCA logo - flocktonbypass.co.ukThe West Yorkshire Combined Authority and our partners want to understand which areas in our region could be improved to help the public travel more easily by bike or on foot, and to provide more space to travel safely while social distancing.

Our interactive map will allow you to highlight issues that you are experiencing when travelling by bike or on foot and to suggest where improvements could be made to make these journeys safer, including increasing space for social distancing. The map can be found here.

You will need to register a username for a login, if you want to add information. There is a link on the map page, or click here.

Hot TipTake screen shots from google street maps to add to your locations – it will help people to see the true nature of road safety issues.

Road issues in FlocktonNumber of Flockton listings as of 9 July 2020

Example listingExample of adding a google street screen capture


 

Visits: 41

Police Pro Laser Operation – Flockton

Police officers from the Rural Neighbourhood Policing Team visited Flockton (Thursday 21 May 2020) to conduct one of two Pro Laser Operations in the local area.

Herdwick Road - flocktonbypass.co.ukFrom 0945hrs – 1020hrs Huddersfield Road, Shelley outside the Flying Ferret public house near the junction with Westerley Way and then from 1040hrs – 1130hrs Barnsley Road, Flockton at the junction of Herdwick Road, the new build houses where the “give way to oncoming traffic” flow management system is in place.


West Yorkshire Police – Kirklees Rural (facebook)

Police said:

"This was in response to their complaints, via the Councillor, about driving standards in the area.

"We have received some fantastic feedback from neighbours and drivers alike, neighbours coming out of their houses relieved to see us with a speed gun and drivers giving us thumbs up and thank you’s clearly from the local area. Particularly, the Flockton residents that introduced themselves were complaining of not just speeding but issues relating to vehicles ignoring the giveway signs and ASB/ horn tooting / and general nuisance this causes. We have had a few stops with words of advice given."

In a further development…

"Mark Eastwood MP has met with West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner Mark Burns-Williamson and the Chief Constable for West Yorkshire Police, John Robbins QPM, yesterday. They discussed the A637 with regards to the horrific accident recently. They have agreed that more policing is required due to the increase in speeding traffic in the area.

Mark Eastwood MP is fully supportive of the bypass and will continue to push our case at Westminster as well as locally to make our road safer." – Cllr. Kathryn Middleton (22 May 2020)


 

Visits: 289

Spate of Accidents Raises Concern Among Villagers

zebra to zebra - flocktonbypass.co.uk

Flockton bypass campaigners say they are 'fed up of dead bodies' after latest crash (23 April 2020)

21 and 22 April 2020

Over the past couple of days, there have been 2 serious accidents – one on the road leaving Flockton towards Grange Moor (ending in the death of a young mother and injuring her 2 children) and one on Liley Lane (after Grange Moor). Despite speculation, Police have not yet released detailed information on these accidents, but new calls for traffic and speed reduction, through Flockton and beyond, have been called for on social media.

Accident - flocktonbypass.co.ukTributes paid to 'wonderful and hard working mum' who died after horror crash in Flockton

A collision left a car on its roof with 2 children injured and their mother dead. "Anyone with information about the collision should phone police on 101 and quote crime reference number 1525 of Monday, 20 April 2020."

Toddler suffered "serious" head injuries in crash that killed mum Danielle Broadhead

Accident Liley Ln - flocktonbypass.co.ukAccident on Liley Lane 22 April 2020

 

 

 

Parish Cllr Kathryn Middleton asks villagers to contact Dewsbury MP, Mark Eastwood (who is sympathetic to Flockton's road issues) and Kirklees Highways, with their road safety concerns:

Mark Eastwood MP:

Kirklees road safety link

You could also email Highways at Kirklees:


 

Visits: 135

Growing Area Support For Flockton Bypass

At a recent Flockton Bypass campaign meeting (24 February 2020) Tom Kay, Chair of Wakfield Rural Ward Labour Party, along with others, confirmed his support for a Flockton Bypass. Tom later posted in the facebook group, Blacker Lane Road Safety Campaign:

"Keep your eyes out for our Flockton Bypass support leaflet. Signage has changed at Grange Moor meaning more HGVs through Middlestown, Horbury Bridge and Netherton going up hill past our school [and Blacker Lane]. – Rural Ward Labour Party."

David Rawling responded:

"The restrictions were tightened/made clearer from previously. Was easier to flout them, and harder to prosecute.

"Signage was changed several months ago, unfortunately resulting in more having to follow the diversion signs. Or finding other ways round. Many through Netherton itself, with a good number using Blacker Lane I would imagine. You may well have noticed this.

"A bypass for Flockton would go a long way towards reducing this, if not stopping it altogether. Recognised by members of various political parties representing our communities, including our two MPs."

(15 people attended the Bypass meeting).


 

Visits: 66

Why No Flockton Bypass Feasibility Study?

Flockton Bypass campaigner, David Rawling revisits the ExaminerLive article of 2017.

North Kirklees Orbital map - flocktonbypass.co.ukFUNDING to develop the case for a £110m north Kirklees orbital road has been agreed.

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority has agreed to spend £248,000 to develop the plan for the route that could link the M62 with the M1.

The money would be spent on a ‘Strategic Case for the Transformational Project’ that will look at locations for the road, likely to be a dual carriageway,

If the plan gets to go-ahead it could take three years to construct.

A spokesman for Kirklees Council said: “The council has successfully secured a grant of £247k from the Transformational Funding Pot, which is part of the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.

“This grant will be used to look at route options for North Kirklees Orbital. The work will also assess the benefits of the scheme.

“In order to bid for funding the council has to submit an estimated cost for the project they are wanting to investigate. Our current estimate is £110 million.

“Both the cost and timescales are dependent on the outcome of the further feasibility work.

Locations for the road have also not been revealed, a map provided to the Examiner last year shows a two-mile-wide strip between the two motorways and includes Hartshead, Mirfield, Robertown, Dewsbury Moor, Ravensthorpe, Savile Town, Earlsheaton, Chickenley and Ossett.

David Rawling comments:

"As announced in July 2017. Interestingly, we have since been informed by the Council that no money was available to carry out a feasibility study for a Flockton bypass, as it would cost them approximately £80k. Couldn’t this be linked to the one above, at a much lower cost? Or is that too simplistic?

"Of course, they would need to factor in any effect of the planned improvements and developments over at Cooper Bridge, Bradley, Mirfield, and Dewsbury Riverside, too.

"Data collection equipment was seen on many local roads last year, presumably relating to the above.

"I assume that our councillors will be informed about the 'relief' such a road will bring to Flockton and neighbouring communities, once built, as we are being led to believe it will. In 20 years time or so. Or if at all."

Read the original ExaminerLive  article here.


 

Visits: 65

Wakefield Council Snub Support For Flockton In Favour Of More Expensive Schemes

Wakefield Express, Wednesday 27 November 2019

Under the banner heading of "Plan to build £100m link road round Featherstone to be discussed" it seems that "Senior Wakefield councillors are set to sign off extra funding for a new link road around the south of Featherstone."

Featherstone link road - flocktonbypass.co.uk

Flockton Bypass campaigner, David Rawling commented on social media:

"Yet Wakefield Council don’t think a bypass for Flockton is a good idea, at almost a tenth of the cost, benefitting Netherton and neighbouring areas. Would cost them nothing either!!"

When Martyn Bolt (Town Mayor, Mirfield Town Council) asked about a recent meeting with Wakefield's Cllr. Morley* and Flockton's Cllr. Kathryn Middleton, she said:

"He was concerned about the impact on Bretton. Bretton considered in isolation!! 460 residents put before the 14,000 in Sitlington, Flockton, Horbury Bridge and Emley."

Martyn Bolt posted some related news links on social media:

Glasshoughton Southern Link Road plans to go on display

Wakefield Eastern Relief Road

Glasshoughton £6m link road: 'Simple solution to ease congestion – stop building everything at Junction 32'

Castleford Growth Corridor Scheme

Transformational Project South Featherstone

West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund

*Cllr. Matthew Morley – Wakefield Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Highways.

Visits: 223

Councils at odds over calls for Bypass

Sitlington Parish Councillors unanimously backed the call for a bypass due to the problems encountered in Netherton and adjoining communities. Cllr. Morley doesn’t it appears, despite an initial meeting seemingly indicating otherwise. It is anticipated that this will soon be questioned by the Parish Council.

Dewsbury and Mirfield Reporter (31 October 2019)

Dewsbury and Mirfield Reporter


 

Visits: 101

Freedom of Information Request on Flockton Bypass

Cllr. Richard Smith put in a request to Kirklees Council, seeking clarification on their recent statements that applications had been made, relating to a bypass for Flockton Village. Councillors and campaigners had not been aware that requests had been made.

Since the responses are quite lengthy, you can read them in detail here.

Richard says that he intends to rephrase his question and ask again.


 

Visits: 0

Local Councils Give Mixed Messages For Bypass

The latest news in the Wakefield Express (22 October 2019)

'We just want to be safe': Residents calling for bypass get mixed signals over plans

Flockton Bypass Campaigners- flocktonbypass.co.uk

"… on the same day Wakefield Council poured cold water on the idea, the local authority in Kirklees said they were committed to "pursuing" cash from the government for it."

"We cannot support this. It wouldn't be fair to Kirklees, it wouldn't be fair to West Bretton and it wouldn't be fair to the long-term aspirations of the Wakefield district." – Cllr. Morley, Wakefield

But then, Kirklees Council stated…

"We are looking to carry out a study into the benefits of upgrading the A637 which may also include a bypass for Flockton and other improvements in the area.

"However, this study would come at a significant financial cost. We have been unsuccessful in putting the scheme forward for inclusion in bids for funding up to now but we will continue to pursue this."

Read the Wakefield Express full article here.


 

Visits: 74

Bypass mentioned at both Wakefield and Kirklees Council meetings

Wakefield CouncilKirklees Council

The agenda for the Wakefield Council meeting on Wednesday 16 October at 2 pm, included a mention of Flockton Bypass.

The agenda document states:

"That a Bypass would be hugely beneficial to both neighbouring authorities."

Agenda page 135. Agenda Item 15a

The meeting was on the Wakefield Council webcam, for those wanting to watch (but the sound quality is very poor).

Also, Wakefield Council YouTube channel.

Video of the session (video will start with beginning of the Bypass at 30:50)

Review of the session

Flockton Bypass campaigners were not impressed by an unexpected and surprising u-turn on anticipated support from Wakefield Council's, Cllr. Morley, after a recent meeting between him and Flockton Parish Councillors, Kathryn Middleton and Jimmy Paxton, and a meeting Wakefield had with Kirklees, where positive discussions had taken place in favour of a Flockton Bypass. Kathryn Middleton expressed her disbelief at the outcome:

"It seems now, that Wakefield cannot support our motion as it would 'greatly increase traffic through Bretton. 

"Why would there be more traffic from Wakefield Road to Bretton? It would be exactly the same as it is now. No one would travel out of their way to the bypass route to go to Bretton."

Cllr. Sanders also echoed this view, in the Council Chamber:

"I don't think West Bretton is going to be affected, any which way."


Flockton also came up at the Kirklees Council meeting on Wednesday. Webcast available but “unfortunately” vanished into the ether at the point of Cllr. McBride just coming to the end of his speech, before any questions.

Reporter Tony Earnshaw has tweeted the replies, following initial posts from Councillors, John and Richard, re PMc responses:

John Taylor:- Outrageous comment by Cllr McBride saying he is sick of talking about Flockton. I hope he offers another swift apology. @FlocktonBypass @LdrTony @richard4kirkbu1

Richard Smith:- He then made it worse by refusing to apologise and repeating the same comment.

David Rawling:- On the webcast presumably? Think more should be aware of this.

Martyn Bolt:- tried watching the webcast yesterday, it cut out before the end, strangely on Cllr McBride's bit and before the continuing debacle of the motions at the end.

Richard S:- We all saw and heard what was said. I have no issue with publicly stating this with or without any webcast evidence. Very much doubt he would be able to deny having said it- twice.

Comments from Tony Earnshaw:

The webcast is incomplete. From my audio recording, taken from the public gallery, I got the following exchange: Clr McBride: "With regard to Flockton, I have given so many answers on Flockton I think everyone is sick of it."

2/ "Yes, we have looked at the particular needs of Flockton again and again. I gave at the last council, or the council before, an example of three – four – analyses of Flockton in the last ten years."

3/ "More recently, this time last year, I went down to talk to the people of Flockton and talked about what we doing and and explained to them the limits of what we were doing, and why."

4/ "When Cooper Bridge is completed, which will be in something like seven years time, it may also have a knock-on effect backward. That will be looked at in the process."

5/ "So should it have such a changing impact in Flockton that will be taken into account with further allocations by West Yorkshire and it will be based on an assessment of 'Is this one of the most, as it were, deserving schemes by comparison with comparable schemes…"

6/ "… throughout the whole of West Yorkshire?'"

A response from John T:

Clr J Taylor: I'd like to start firstly by inviting Clr McBride to apologise to the people of Flockton for saying that he is sick of talking about Flockton. I think that was an outrageous comment to make and he should apologise immediately.

8/ I'll give him the opportunity to respond to that and then I'll ask my question if I may.

9/ Clr McBride: What I meant was about asking questions. They seem to be the same questions again and again and again. It gets very repetitive and I think people are sick of hearing the answers.

Clr Taylor: I would try looking for other solutions then.

(That concludes the exchange.)


 

Visits: 133

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