FAQs

Our first consultation about the plans was in 2020. Since then, a new cycle infrastructure design guide (LTN 1/20) has been introduced. We have updated our designs to reflect public feedback and new guidance. We would like your views on our updated designs.

Our first consultation about the plans was in 2020. Since then, a new cycle infrastructure design guide (LTN 1/20) has been introduced. We have updated our designs to reflect public feedback and new guidance. We would like your views on our updated designs.

The LTN 1/20 guidance is set new standards for cycling infrastructure with aims to create a safe environment for cyclists.

LTN 1/20 guidance has set new standards for cycling infrastructure with aims to create a safe environment for cyclists. We have upgraded some sections of the scheme to comply with LTN 1/20. You have an opportunity to comment on these changes as part of this consultation along with other updates which are a direct result of the feedback you provided in 2020.

This scheme is mostly funded through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (WY+TF), as part of the Local Growth Fund provided by the Government. The aims of the fund are to increase employment and economic growth in the Leeds City Region.  The scheme is not funded by Council Tax, nor will its funding allocation impact other Council funding streams. The total cost of the scheme is £13 million consisting of £12.5m from WY+TF and £500,000 Section 106 funding.

Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council are responsible for delivering the scheme. Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council are 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 projects such as this.

The objectives of the scheme are:

• To better manage congestion on the Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds route within the Leeds City Region Strategic Economic Plan period (SEP)
• To improve public transport and infrastructure along the Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds route
• To help and support the growth in employment, housing and economy along the Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds route within current SEP and Kirklees and Leeds Local Plan periods
• To improve the quality of the local environment and public space to help support regeneration in Dewsbury Town Centre in line with the Dewsbury Development Framework
• To reduce harmful impacts of transport on the environment and public health. Particularly by promoting active travel modes.

The scheme aims to reduce delays at certain junctions where possible. However, the scheme’s primary focus is to provide a better range of sustainable transport choices. It aims to reduce the overall impact of new journeys on the road network arising from new development.  Other junctions along the corridor will be improved by funds provided by developers or by government funding streams that help to facilitate major developments.

The scheme has close relationships with the following other schemes:

• Dewsbury Riverside Housing Development site
• Dewsbury Town Centre walking and cycling ‘Transforming Cities Fund’ package
• Chidswell Housing & Employment Development site
• Capitol Park Employment Development site
• White Rose railway station proposal
• Transpennine Route Upgrade rail infrastructure programme

Some options of scheme aim to provide a more reliable bus service in the Mirfield and Ravensthorpe area. This will add bus priority at the Tommy Wass junction and bus lanes in the Tingley and White Rose area.

We will not be adding any new stops, but we will be relocating some of the stops. As part of the proposals at the Station Road / Huddersfield Road junction in Mirfield, the bus stop in the town centre on the Huddersfield-bound direction will be relocated to the other side of the junction.

We will not be removing any stops and instead slightly relocating some bus stops to enable the introduction of scheme measures such as bus stops joining onto bus lanes.

Parts of the scheme aim to provide cycle facilities in the Mirfield and Ravensthorpe areas, around Dewsbury Town Centre, and between Capitol Park and Tommy Wass in Leeds.

As part of the 2020 consultation we gathered your views and those of local cycle groups. The comments received have been used to inform the updated drawings presented within this consultation and will help inform the final plans.

New and upgraded pedestrian and pedestrian/ cycle crossings will be provided throughout the route. This scheme aims to provide improved pedestrian safety and amenities. This will be through:

• new crossings
• narrowing of side road junctions
• tactile paving to help people with visual impairments   
• footway widening in certain locations.

In Leeds we are yet to make a decision on this, but it will be in line with bus lane proposals elsewhere in the city. In Kirklees the consultation results in 2020 revealed that 60% of you would like to see the hours of operation shortened from always operational. We will consider this carefully along with government guidance (LTN 1/20) to ensure a suitable level of protection is provided to cyclists who use the bus lane.

Some design options in the scheme will impact on local parking on the highway. Particularly along certain stretches of Mirfield and Ravensthorpe, and along A653 Dewsbury Road. This is due to the implementation of bus and cycle lanes.  

It is currently predicted that the scheme will only require minimal land. This will be outside of the current highway extent at the Challenge Way / Leeds Road / John Ormsby V C Way Junction.  No other current designs require any additional land.

In the unfortunate event we must remove a tree we will replace it with another tree in a suitable location as close as possible. The current policy in Leeds District is to replace each tree removed with three new trees.

The phasing of roadworks on the public highway still needs to be planned. Nearer the time of construction, local residents and businesses will be given more detail about what will happen and where, but overall disruption will be kept to a minimum.

The detail of the roadworks and timings of this will be agreed closer to the time of construction.  Roadworks would only be carried out at night in limited circumstances to meet traffic operational requirements. Residents would be informed well in advance.

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 this Act are valid after 12 months of the opening of the scheme. Compensation is given if it can be demonstrated that the highway works have negatively affected the value of land and buildings.

The scheme is currently under development and updated drawings will be consulted on. The consultation results will then feed into the design with this being progressed as part of the Full Business Case (FBC). The FBC will require Combined Authority approval to fulfil local assurance requirements prior to construction.  Due to the size and complexity of the proposed works the improvements may be introduced in phases. The current projection for a start on construction of the scheme is late 2022.

There will be a loss of parking along sections of road between Mirfield and Ravensthorpe where we intend to provide segregated cycle lanes. This is in line with the previous consultation where 76% of you stated you would support parking restrictions 24 hours per day (24/7).

There may also be some loss of parking between Ravensthorpe and Dewsbury where we intend to provide bus lanes. This loss of parking will be during times when the bus lanes are in operation.

In Leeds where any off-street parking is lost we will look to replace these with dedicated parking bays as shown in our plans.

Funding for the Full Business Case was secured through The Combined Authority to allow Kirklees and Leeds City Council to progress the proposals to the latter stages of scheme development. Specifically, we will now be able to progress to the final stage of business case development and finalise the design. We are anticipating this work will be complete in mid- 2022.

The scheme is checked through sequenced decision gateways in the Assurance Process of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority. There are four business case gateways within this assurance process.  At each stage, recommendations on the scheme are made by an officer-based appraisal team to the relevant committee(s) of elected members. We are currently at the latter stages of the business case gateway approval having passed three gateways.  

The project has a current funding allocation of £12.5m in the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.  The cost of delivering the full aspirations for this corridor amount to much more than the current funding allocation.  As a result, a sifting exercise was undertaken to find the best performing options which could be delivered. These promoted schemes will be subject to further traffic modelling and design updates and are deemed to be the best value for money to fit the existing funding envelope.  

The decision documents are published both on Kirklees Council and Leeds City Council websites and The Combined Authority’s website.

For Kirklees see: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/transport-roads-and-parking/mirfield-to-dewsbury-to-leeds.aspx

For the West Yorkshire Combined Authority see: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/a653-leeds-to-dewsbury-corridor/ (click link to business case summary on web page)

The previous consultation gave the opportunity for you to comment on the proposal. This update will give the opportunity to further inform the updated design. This consultation period will take place from 9^th November until 7^th December 2021.  Members of the public can have their say via www.yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk/M2D2L or attend an online event on 18^th November between 17:00 and 18:00, where officers will present the proposals. We are keen to hear from local residents, businesses and other road users.

Leaflets, posters and electronic messaging boards are being provided in the area around the scheme and real time information screens at bus shelters will display information. Anyone who cannot access the survey online and needs to request an alternative format should contact MetroLine on 0113 245 7676.

We welcome the opinions and feedback of all members of the public. 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 insight are valuable to us to shape the project. Please share the link www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/M2D2L with anyone you think would be interested in taking part. If you intend to submit a joint response on behalf of a group/organisation, please share the link with your colleagues/members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.

You can register to follow the project and have your say in any future consultations at  www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/M2D2L.  Updates on the project progress will also be provided via the Combined Authority’s and local councils’ webpages and via press articles. You can also contact your Local Ward Councillors. We will publish a report on the consultation response on this website.