Holmfirth Town Centre Access Plan - You said, we did (engagement September 2019)

Please note that the engagement period has now closed - thank you for the feedback you provided.

Visit: www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/holmfirth-update to keep up to date with the Holmfirth project

In partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Kirklees developed proposals designed to improve traffic flow through the town centre as well as improving the pedestrian experience. In March this year local residents and businesses were invited to have their say on the proposals. The original scheme included making Victoria Street one-way, creating a mini-roundabout at the junctions between Victoria Street, Town Gate, Hollowgate and Dunford Road and creating a new link road between Hollowgate and the A6024 Huddersfield Road.

Following consideration of the consultation responses and further engagement with key stakeholders, Kirklees Council has therefore decided not to deliver these plans and redesign a scheme which reflects the feedback received from residents. The main points raised during the consultation were:

You said

• you wanted to retain the original character of Holmfirth,
• you didn’t want the link road through Hollowgate,
• you wanted to see more parking
• you wanted an area to hold “pop up” markets
• you wanted an improved public realm
• you wanted better links to the river
• you wanted to encourage tourism
• you agreed that at times there were issues with vehicles
• you wanted HGVs removing from the town centre

We are also 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 and produced an alternative proposal, here are some examples of what we’ve done in response to your feedback:

We did

• Reconfigured the signals on Woodhead Road, amended the stop line, widened footways and installed signal timing software to better manage the junction; improving traffic flow
• 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 20mph zones in areas of the town centre
• The market hall will still be demolished but instead of a link road, we have created a pedestrian / cycle link between Hollowgate and Huddersfield Road
• Provided additional car parking on the market hall site, which will include electricity points for Pop-Up markets / festivals
• 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 cars and bikes
• Widened footways on Victoria Street, with a loading layby / taxi rank; this will allow a “café culture” with outdoor seating