Month: July 2019

Having previously decided that government money wasn't worth applying for, when it came to reconsidering a bypass for Flockton, it seems unlikely that Kirklees Council will apply for "free money" for potholes. With their heads elsewhere, it's more likely we will hear in the months to come that they don't have money for restoring damaged roads!

So in case our council missed the information, here it is:

What's the worst road in Huddersfield? £350m repair pot up for grabs

The article on ExaminerLive (dated 20 July 2019) begins…

Councils will be able to bid for government cash to repair their worst roads.

Nearly £350m will be available to improve Britain's worst roads under a scheme launched today (July 20) by the Department for Transport.

The scheme is split between two funds: the Challenge Fund which offers £198m for councils to repair their worst roads; and the Pinch Point Fund which has £150m set aside to help local authorities ease congestion on their busiest roads.

The cash from the Challenge Fund can be used to improve the infrastructure of local highways, including bridges and viaducts. The money could also be used for repairing potholes. (Read full article here)

Visits: 78

4 July 2019

It may have been for only a short time, but it was a welcome sight for villagers to see the Police monitoring traffic speed. Some felt they were in rather an obvious and visible location, but there seems to be general agreement that a few more visits will go some way to drivers realising that the Police could turn up at any time.

Visits: 119

2 July 2019

A small delegation from the Flockton Bypass group, Parish Cllr. Kathryn Middleton, Graham Beckwith, and David Rawling, attended the Sitlington area Parish Council meeting.

The outcome was positive and future meetings are planned with Wakefield Council. Mary Creagh MP, is sending a letter of support with the need for a bypass for both areas to strengthen Flockton's cause.

This increasing collaboration between councils will certainly benefit the whole local area, and not just individual villages.

Visits: 63

As so often happens with news reporting, it's the negative aspects that grab the headlines. In an age of tittle-tattle and drama, where people like nothing more than a moan about everything, before they look at the bigger picture, it's unfortunate that the bit of abuse from a few 'held-up' motorists towards the end of the villager's protest, comes across as something that happened constantly throughout the event. The Examiner starts off as follows:

"Villagers taking direct action to campaign for a bypass for Flockton were sworn and shouted at by motorists held up in the jams.

"A determined group of residents took to the streets on Monday afternoon to try and increase the profile of their cause.

"Some walked up and down between the two pedestrian crossings but others, including Clr John Taylor, deliberately held up motorists by repeatedly walking across one of the zebra crossings as slowly as possible.

"Their actions during the evening commute left some drivers fuming, with tempers boiling over and one motorist making a rude gesture from his car.

"Several irate motorists wound down their windows to have a go at the protesters while one allegedly mounted the pavement in his vehicle to try and get out of the queue and then became involved in an altercation with one of those taking part." (Read the full article here) Gallery photos here.

Campaigners 'floored' to hear there's no cash for Flockton bypass

Clr John Taylor (Con, Kirkburton), who joined in the direct action earlier in July, said: "It was news to everybody that the council had made an attempt to do anything with TfN about Flockton.

"We're asking for that information to be made available to campaigners.

"Where is the report that they wrote and why were myself and other ward councillors not consulted or at the least informed?

Follow-up article from 21 July 2019

Visits: 83

1 July 2019 between 4 pm and 6:30 pm

Flockton residents get together to protest about the terrible traffic situation  through their village and to again call for a bypass solution.

Visits: 220