Flockton Bypass campaigner, David Rawling revisits the ExaminerLive article of 2017.
FUNDING 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: 74
