FAQs

The plans detailed in this consultation were produced ahead of the publication of the Department for Transport Cycle Infrastructure Design (LTN 1/20).  We are currently reviewing the detail of the new guidance to how this may impact this scheme.  

It is not envisaged that the elements of the scheme detailed as part of this consultation will change, however there may be a requirement for minor design alterations to the proposals in line with this new guidance.

This scheme is being funded through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (WY+TF), as part of the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, which is a £1 billion-plus deal between Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Government to help transform the City Region economy. It also forms a significant element of the funding make-up of the West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. The scheme is not funded by Council Tax, nor will its funding allocation impact other Council funding streams. The total cost of this phase of the scheme would be £13 million with 12.5 million through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and £500,000 from Leeds City Council Section 106 funding (developer contributions).  

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 enhance public transport operations and infrastructure along the Mirfield to Dewsbury to Leeds route 
• To facilitate 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 realm to help support regeneration in Dewsbury Town Centre in line with the Dewsbury Development Framework 
• To reduce adverse impacts of transport on the environment and public health (particularly through 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 thereby reducing 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 
• The A62/A644 Link Road ‘Cooper Bridge’ scheme, to the west on the A644 

A bus ‘super-stop’ is an upgraded bus stop with sheltered waiting facilities, real time bus information and CCTV provision.

Some scheme options aim to provide better bus reliability in the Mirfield and Ravensthorpe area, bus priority at the Tommy Wass junction and bus lanes in the Tingley and White Rose area. 

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 would be relocated to the other side of the junction. 

There would be the removal of two existing bus stops as part of the scheme. These are to the west of Ravensthorpe Gyratory, where there is a nearby alternative stop, and on Ravensthorpe Gyratory, where the current stop is not used. We are also considering slightly relocating bus stops in other parts of the route to enable the introduction of other scheme measures. 

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 our scheme consultation we will engage with local cycle groups. As the scheme is still in its early stages, we would like to hear your thoughts on this to help us develop the plans. 

New and upgraded pedestrian and pedestrian/ cycle crossings will be provided throughout the route. This scheme aims to provide betterment to pedestrian safety and amenity through measures such as new crossings, narrowing of side road junctions, tactile paving to help people with visual impairments, and 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, we are consulting on the options of 24 hour bus lane operation and peak hour operation. 

Certain design options within the scheme may impact on local parking on the highway along certain stretches of Mirfield and Ravensthorpe, and along A653 Dewsbury Road, due to the implementation of bus and cycle lanes. Some of the designs could be progressed with different timing arrangements when parking is permitted, for example, in the off-peak. 

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

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 and Kirklees Council will determine their approach on a project by project basis in consultation. 

The phasing of roadworks on the public highway still needs to be planned. Nearer the time of construction, local residents and businesses will be provided with 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 determined closer to the time of construction. Roadworks would only be carried out at night in limited circumstances to meet traffic operational requirements and 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 payable 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 is going through design review and consultation stages, with a preferred scheme to be identified by Outline Business Case stage. There are several stages of business case approval from the Combined Authority 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 in early spring 2022.  

Funding for the early phase of the scheme was secured through The Combined Authority to allow Kirklees and Leeds City Councils to start developing and promoting the scheme. This has allowed us to undertake initial studies and business case development, optioneering and outline designing. This project is still at an early stage of development. 

This consultation will help inform which proposals form the proposed £13 million scheme, which is to be funded with £12.5 million through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and £500,000 of Section 106 funding. There will be a further review following traffic modelling, design reviews and analysis of public consultation results to form a final shortlist of measures within the current scheme budget. Decisions about the scheme will be checked through 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. 

The cost of delivering the full aspirations for this corridor amount to much more than the current funding allocation.  A first sifting stage, that has considered the policy fit and deliverability of different design options, has taken place and has enabled options to be prioritised along this whole route. This consultation will help inform which proposals form the proposed £13 million scheme, which is to be funded with £12.5 million through the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and £500,000 of Section 106 funding. There will be a further review following traffic modelling, design reviews and analysis of public consultation results to form a final shortlist of measures within the current scheme budget. Work on the final scheme could start in early 2022. Future proposals (subject to funding) along the corridor will consider improvements at other sections of the route.  

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

 For Kirklees see: www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/transport-roads-and-parking/mirfield-to-dewsbury-to-leeds.aspx [external link - opens in new window]

 For the CA see: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/a653-leeds-to-dewsbury-corridor/ [external link - opens in new window]

The consultation period will take place from 22 July until 25 September 2020. Members of the public can have their say via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/M2D2L or attend one of the drop-in sessions (subject to social distancing measures in force at the time) in September 2020, where officers will be available to answer any questions. 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 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.