FAQs

Following the series of exhibitions held earlier this year, with an overwhelming majority against the proposals, the decision was made to revisit the original scheme.

You said you wanted:

·  to encourage cycling and walking

·  to retain the original character of Holmfirth

·  to improve traffic flow

·  to see more parking

·  an area to hold “pop up” markets

·  more public realm

·  better links to the river

·  to encourage tourism

You agreed that at times there were issues with vehicles and wanted HGVs removing from the town centre, but didn’t want the link road through Hollowgate.

We are aware of the proposals for the area to have a Neighbourhood Plan, which has specific transport policies so with this, and your comments in mind, we have revisited the scheme.

·  The market hall will still be demolished but instead of a link road, we have created a pedestrian / cycle link into Hollowgate

·  Reconfigured the signals on Woodhead Road, amended the stop line, widened footways and will install signal timing software to better manage the junction; thus improving traffic flow

·  Victoria Street remains two-way, with on-street parking removed and a dedicated day-time loading bay provided for delivery vehicles

·  Provided additional car parking on the market hall site, which will include electricity points for Pop-Up markets / festivals and charging points for vehicles

·  This area will also include public realm areas, including seating, landscaping and opens up the view to the river

·  Created a new car park off Woodhead Road near “Bloc” specifically for Electric Vehicle (including bikes) rapid charging points

·  Widened footways on Victoria Street, with a loading layby, this will allow a “café culture” with outdoor seating

·  Upgraded the pedestrian facilities on Victoria Street and Towngate; this will better control the flow of traffic

·  Relocated the pedestrian crossing on Towngate

·  Installed a plateau at the end of Rotcher Road at its junction with Hollowgate

·  Introduced a 20mph speed limit in areas of the town centre

Our current plans do not include a ban to HGVs.  However, following feedback from our first public engagement in March 2019 we are now planning to undertake some additional surveys to better understand the volume and movements of HGVs travelling through the town.

Once we have this information we will be able to consider if any additional measures are needed

This is a much reduced scheme from what was originally proposed but still delivers the required journey time savings and the Value for Money benefits. 

In order for us to receive funding from the Combined Authority, we have to demonstrate that the scheme will:

·  Reduce congestion 

·  Improve journey times by 8%

·  Improve journey times for buses, cyclists and pedestrians by 12%

·  Reduce the potential for accidents

·  Improve access for local residents and businesses

·  Enable access to employment and residential sites along the corridor

·  Increase the Gross Value Added to the Economy

The Corridor Improvement Programme budget for the Holmfirth scheme is only £4.9m. We cannot deliver a major scheme for this budget. 

There is still a lot of work to do before you see anything out on site. We have to do the detailed design, get planning consent, tender the works and award the contract. 

We are hoping to start the works (subject to approvals) in 2021 and we expect it to take approximately twelve months to complete. 

If there is a delay to this (or if we can make an early start) we will let residents and businesses know. Any changes to the planned start and end dates will also be provided on the council’s Major Transport web page kirklees.gov.uk/majorschemes 

The project is to be funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (WY+TF). 

The council has to submit a business case to the Combined Authority for their approval for the scheme to proceed. If successful, we will receive the funding allocated to the scheme. 

We WILL NOT be using Council tax or other council money. The funding of this scheme will not impact on other council services. 

The Holmfirth Town Centre Access Plan scheme has funding provisionally allocated from the WY+TF specifically for this scheme and therefore cannot be spent on any other proposals or schemes. 

If the West Yorkshire Combined Authority do not accept the business case, then the scheme cannot go ahead and the money earmarked for this project will be allocated elsewhere in the region, not necessarily in Kirklees. 

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across the Kirklees, Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area. 

The Combined Authority brings together key decision making powers into a single body. To find out more visit westyorks-ca.gov.uk 

An Expression of Interest for funding to develop highway improvements on this corridor was approved in 2017. This provided around £200,000 of funding to develop the project to the next stage – this is called the Outline Business Case (OBC). The OBC develops preliminary designs, undertakes traffic modelling work to determine a preferred option and estimates scheme costs, risks etc. 

Subject to approval of the OBC, the Combined Authority will endorse the development of the scheme including preparing the detailed design and applying for planning permission etc. 

Following this exhibition, feedback received will be considered and options for improvement will be appraised in accordance with guidelines approved by the Department for Transport (DfT). 

In September 2019 we undertook a public engagement exercise and we will now consider the comments received and where possible will take account of these as we develop the design. 

After the submission and approval of the Outline Business Case, we will start work on our detailed design and preparing the full business case. 

In addition to reducing congestion in the town centre, we also plan to improve the local area by:

·  Demolishing the Market Hall and creating a pedestrian and cycle link between Hollowgate and Huddersfield Road

·  Extending the existing car park next to the Market Hall to create space for pop-up markets and community events

·  Providing new landscaped areas around the current Market Hall site

·  Widening footways on Victoria Street, Victoria Square and part of Hollowgate.

·  Using improved materials such as York Stone and block paving to retain the original character of Holmfirth

·  Providing addition seating, litter bins and cycle parking facilities around the town centre

We have been in discussions with local partnerships to determine how we can work with them and what we could do, to enhance this stretch of the River Holme. Our current plans include the provision of steps to the riverside which will complement improvements being delivered by others.   

There are no proposals to demolish any properties other than the Market Hall, which is in the Council’s ownership. 

Parking on Victoria Street and Victoria Square will be removed in order to widen the footpaths, remove obstructions, provide for a better environment and generally improve public realm in the area. A day-time loading bay will be provided on Victoria Street to facilitate business deliveries whilst minimising the obstruction caused by delivery vehicles in this area.  This bay will available to be used by taxis during the evening.

An additional parking bay will be provided on Towngate and we are increasing the size of the car park at Poppa Piccolinos and at the side of the Bloc. These changes will result in a small overall reduction in town parking spaces. 

A new day-time loading bay will be provided on Victoria Street to help minimise the impact that delivery vehicles have on vehicle and pedestrian movements in this location.  There are no proposed changes to delivery access elsewhere in the town centre. 

Our current plans do not include a ban to HGVs.  However, following feedback from our first public engagement in March 2019 we are now planning to undertake some additional surveys to better understand the volume and movements of HGVs travelling through the town.

Once we have this information we will be able to consider if any additional measures are needed. 

The phasing of roadworks still need to be planned.  Nearer the time of construction local residents will be provided with more detail about what will happen and when.  If night work is needed, we will talk to residents to see what can be done to minimise the impact. 

In certain circumstances compensation can be paid for loss of amenity and value of property through Part 1 of the Land Compensation Act 1973.  Claims through Part 1 of this Act are valid after 12 months of the opening of the road.

Compensation is payable if it can be demonstrated that the road improvements have negatively affected the value of land and buildings. Land and property owners would need to submit a ‘claim to the Council if they consider that the improvements have negatively impacted on the value of land and buildings. 

For more information on Part 1 claims please refer to Government website www.gov.uk/compensation-road-property-value 

If noise levels are likely to increase above certain thresholds within 15 years of the completion of the road improvements then the Highway Authority is obliged to provide noise insulation or provide a grant equal to the value of the noise insulation works.

Baseline noise levels will be recorded; these will be used to make an assessment of any noise level changes and whether noise insulation will be needed for any properties.

Where noise insulation is needed we will write to property owners to make an offer of noise insulation works or a grant. A map showing all eligible properties will be published within six months of scheme completion.

If you feel that you may be eligible for noise insulation and your property is not shown on the published map of eligible properties then a claim for noise insulation can be made within 12 months of scheme completion. 

Air quality monitoring has been carried out by Kirklees Council for several years; reports on air quality can be found at www.kirklees.gov.uk/pollution

Air quality measurements will also be undertaken at various locations along the corridor, to provide a baseline record of air quality conditions before any changes are made.   

With regard to Kirklees Council obligations, and as part of the planning application, air quality will continue to be measured on an ongoing basis. 

The improvements will contribute towards reducing pollution levels. Holmfirth does not have a declared AQMA, although the alterations, together with improvements to vehicle emissions will, over time, result in lower levels of pollution.   

Whilst some of the work is within the public highway, and are classed as permitted development; we will require planning consent to demolish the market building and extend the car park. 

Journey times and reliability should improve for all types of transport. For those on foot there will be widened footways and additional crossing facilities. 

Yes, we will look at existing bus stops along the route and in the town centre to identify any improvements that could be made (new shelters, RealTime information etc) 

At this point in time there are no plans to move any bus stops.  However, we would be happy to receive any comments which we can discuss with bus operators during the development process.  Any changes to stop locations will be subject to separate communications and engagement with affected home and business owners. 

No 

On 14th February 2018, the Council determined its Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2018-2020. One of the related issues concerned a recommendation to close Holmfirth Market as it was no longer financially viable in the market hall. The Council ratified the recommendation but has agreed that the market will continue to operate in the market hall whilst discussions are held with any community groups or businesses who are interested in taking over the market rights for Holmfirth to operate a market elsewhere in the town. The market will still be demolished to make way for the proposals. The extended car park at the side of Poppa Piccolinos could be used for pop-up markets / festivals etc. 

We are not planning to keep individual contact details on file in order to provide updates on progress. Instead we will keep our web page updated and share updates elsewhere online and in the media.

www.kirklees.gov.uk/majorschemes