FAQs

The proposals being progressed following the initial consultation include those located at:

• Bond Street – Wider footways and surface paving
• Wellington Street – New uphill cycle track, and crossings for people walking or cycling
• Grove Street – Wider footways and rearranged parking
• Church Street / Westgate – Improved footpaths, side-road crossings, new cycle facilities, new trees, and planting
• South Street – New road safety measures including a 20mph zone, crossing points and planting
• Railway Street – Traffic calming and improved crossing points

The proposals not being progressed following the initial consultation are:

• The segregated two-way cycle lane along Ring Road between Leeds Road and Bradford Road
• The segregated two-way cycle lane on Longcauseway South

Kirklees Council is responsible for delivering the scheme. Kirklees Council is working in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. The Combined Authority works with local authorities and businesses across West Yorkshire and York to create economic growth through infrastructure schemes such as this.

This scheme is being funded through the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF), provided by the Department for Transport following a successful bidding process. The programme aims to provide improved infrastructure for active and sustainable travel (walking, cycling and public transport). 

The schemes are not funded by Council Tax and will not impact any other Council funding streams. The Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements scheme has £10.25m allocated funding from the TCF programme.

The Dewsbury Town Centre Walking and Cycling Improvements scheme will contribute to Kirklees Council’s 2038 carbon neutral vision, and the Combined Authority’s Net Zero Carbon Economy by 2038. 

The scheme aims to achieve this by encouraging more people to walk, cycle and use public transport. It makes these options more accessible, attractive, and achievable through better connectivity within the town centre and surrounding areas. Trees, landscaping, and sustainable drainage (sometimes referred to as green infrastructure) will also be included in the proposals where possible.

The plans show an aspirational concept design of the type of improvements we would like to deliver in Dewsbury. The final plans will be determined following the consultation and during the detailed design stage.

The scheme aims to achieve better connectivity for people accessing the town centre on foot or by bike. We are looking to provide improved walking and cycling routes to, and across, the town centre. Also, between key public transport hubs such as the Bus Station and Rail Station. 

We are also upgrading areas with tree planting, better quality paving, upgraded crossings and segregated cycle lanes to improve safety and enhance the public spaces in the town centre.

There are no changes proposed to any bus routes or bus stops as part of this scheme. The intention is to allow better connectivity for people walking or cycling across the town centre and to make it easier to access bus services and Dewsbury Bus Station. 

No new bus stops are proposed or for any to be changed or removed. There may be a need to slightly relocate some bus stops, and this will be determined through detailed design. Any greater changes would be made clear in future consultations.

In some locations, new cycling facilities would be achieved through reallocating road space or widening existing footpaths. This is to provide segregated cycle lanes or shared-use paths. Extensive modelling will be undertaken to understand impacts of this on car users and journey times. However, this consultation will measure the level of support for the introduction of segregated cycle lanes, shared-use paths, and widened footpaths.

To allow for speed humps, and improve safety for people walking, some on-street parking might need to be removed along the top section of Battye Street. We aim to keep this to a minimum and, where possible, on-street parking will be moved to nearby locations in the town centre. The overall balance and distribution of parking across the town centre is also being considered as part of the Kirklees Parking Strategy.

At this stage, it is expected that the works can take place within the existing highway boundary or land owned by Kirklees Council. It is not anticipated any land acquisition will be required.

The designs have been developed to try and avoid any tree loss. However, this will be dependent on the final scheme design and tree surveys currently being undertaken. In some locations, we seek to increase tree planting.

If trees must be removed, we will comply with policies outlined in the Kirklees Local Plan, and the recently adopted Open Space Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) including the replacement of any lost trees.

Proposals have been developed with technical consultants to assess their feasibility. These are currently at an early outline/concept stage. 

The initial consultation identified some proposals which were not supported by the public. The aim of the second consultation is to understand views on the updated proposals before developing the scheme further. The next design stage will include modelling analysis and appraisal. This will be used with the consultation feedback to develop the scheme further. 

The details of roadworks and timings would be planned nearer construction. Residents and businesses would be provided with more information about what would happen and where. A Construction Management Plan would be developed to minimise the impact of construction activities on residents, businesses, and visitors.

Roadworks would only be carried out at night in limited circumstances to meet traffic operational requirements. Residents would be informed well in advance.

The scheme is currently under development and is going through design review and consultation stages. A preferred scheme is to be identified by Outline Business Case stage in autumn 2022. 

There are several stages of business case approval required by the Combined Authority to meet assurance requirements before construction. Due to the size and complexity of the proposed construction works, the improvements may be introduced in phases. Construction of the scheme is due to commence in autumn 2023.

This is a separate scheme focusing on walking and cycling connectivity across the town centre and is led by Kirklees Council. The Transforming Dewsbury Bus Station scheme focuses on improving the interior of the Bus Station and is led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. 

There are some areas of overlap around the Bus Station access points. Your feedback will inform the proposals and the two teams will continue to work closely to ensure these align.

The scheme has links with the following schemes:

• A638 Dewsbury to Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor (Transforming Cities Fund)
• Dewsbury-Batley-Chidswell Sustainable Travel Corridor (Transforming Cities Fund)
• Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds transport scheme (West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund)
• Batley Streets for People scheme (Streets for People)

The scheme is reviewed through a sequence of five business case decision points in the Assurance Process of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. At each stage, recommendations on the scheme are made by an officer-based appraisal team to the relevant committee(s) of elected members.

Funding for the early phase of the scheme was secured through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to allow Kirklees Council to start developing and promoting the scheme. This has allowed us to undertake initial studies and business case development, optioneering and outline design. This scheme is still at an early stage of development but has secured Combined Authority and Kirklees Cabinet approvals at the Strategic Outline Case stage.

A first round of public consultation was undertaken in October 2021 and while some elements were supported, there were others that were not. We have revised some of these proposals and this second consultation will assess public opinion on the updated proposals.

Kirklees Council is consulting to understand public opinion on the updated proposals before undertaking more detailed design and analysis. The analysis will incorporate feedback from both consultations, as well as: 

• Further junction modelling using computer software to determine benefits and potential impacts on user journey times
• Wider benefits and impacts relating to people shifting to sustainable modes of transport (such as walking, cycling and public transport), safety improvements, public open space and landscaped grass or planted areas
• Continued discussions with stakeholders such as local Councillors, businesses, resident groups, landowners, and local action groups
• Appraisal to help determine whether the proposals offer ‘value for money’ against defined Department for Transport criteria

Kirklees Council will undertake further engagement once designs have been progressed and more information can be provided on quantified benefits and impacts (such as reduced journey times for bus users, increased crossing points or footpath space).

The consultation period will take place from 18 July 2022 to 22 August 2022. Anyone can have their say via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/DTC, by emailing yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk or by attending one of our drop-in events.

There will be drop-in events within Dewsbury town centre to enable people to get involved. 

Anyone who cannot access the survey online and needs to request an alternative format should contact MetroLine on 0113 245 7676.

Leaflets, letter drops, and posters are being provided in the area around the scheme and real time information screens at bus shelters will display information.

We welcome opinions and feedback from everybody. Whether you travel by public transport, walk, drive, or cycle, are a resident, business owner, or just travel through the area, your views, opinions, and insights are valuable to us to shape the scheme. 

Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/DTC with anyone you think would be interested in taking part. 

As part of the survey you can indicate whether you are completing it as an induvial or as part of an organisation or group. If you prefer to submit a joint response by email, you can do so by emailing us at yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. 

Please share the link with your networks so others can provide an individual response should they wish to do so.

You can register to follow the scheme and have your say in any future consultations at www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/DTC. Updates on progress will also be provided via the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Kirklees Council webpages and via press articles. You can also contact your local Ward Councillors. 

The outcome report for this consultation will be published on this webpage.

The programme will deliver:

• two new Park & Rides
• one new rail station
• four new foot and cycle bridges
• six new or improved bus stations and interchange hubs
• new high quality cycle routes along six corridors
• bus priority along six key bus routes to create more reliable and faster bus journey times
• 800 new cycle parking spaces
• seven improvements to Rail Station Gateways
• new Real Time Information and improved passenger experience across the network.  

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authority colleagues from Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York councils on the TCF programme.

It is estimated TCF will:

• improve journeys by bus, rail, bike and on foot for up to 1.5 million people
• take up to 12 million car trips per year off our roads by 2036
• make 33 million rail journeys easier by improvements to rail stations
• increase bus, rail, and walking and cycling trips by up to 6%, 4% and 7% respectively by 2036
• reduce CO2 emissions by up to 1.5% / 15,000 tonnes from car travel by 2036
• create more than 1,000 jobs and add up to £1 billion to the economy by 2036
• support connectivity to 650 housing sites and 220 employment sites

The programme is being delivered over the next three years, up to the end of 2025.

Find out more information about the Transforming Cities Fund programme here.

Details of the TCF consultations can be found here. You can get in touch with the Combined Authority’s Consultation and Engagement team via YourVoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk, 0113 245 7676 or Freepost CONSULTATION TEAM (WYCA). 

The bid was led by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority in partnership with the 10 local authorities across the Leeds City Region. It was developed in two stages, with a Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) in June 2019. The final bid was submitted to the DfT in November 2019. The bid documents can be found here.

The bid was developed in partnership with local authorities across the Leeds City Region, including Bradford, Calderdale, Craven, Harrogate, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, Selby, Wakefield and York. The bid was also co-developed with the DfT, which provided feedback on the plans as they emerged.  In line with other Mayoral Combined Authorities, we are required to feedback on the progress of the programme’s delivery.