Birkby one-way system destroying small businesses

Oct 29 2009 By Dave Himelfield

A NEW one-way system is destroying small businesses, shop owners say.

Blacker Road, Birkby, was turned into a one-way street five weeks ago to reduce traffic congestion.

The narrow street, which is home to about 20 businesses including grocers, butchers and takeaways, had suffered chronic traffic jams because of parked cars on both sides of the street.

But now Blacker Road and Filbert Street, which runs parallel, only allow traffic travelling towards Huddersfield town centre.

The entrance to Blacker Road at the junction of St John’s Road and Wheathouse Road has been closed off with a no entry sign.

Business owners claim to have suffered a 50% drop in trade because customers cannot easily reach their shops, says Kamran Akhtar, who lets 10 shops on Blacker Road.

Mr Akhtar, who runs JK Property Services, says shop owners have been begging him for a rent cut.

He says customers, who previously entered Blacker Road from the south have given up and taken their business elsewhere.

Now shop owners and customers want the flow of traffic on Filbert Street reversed to create a loop system between Blacker Road and Filbert Street.