New twist in Wooldale's New Mill Road crossing saga

Jun 18 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A FOUR-YEAR fight over a pedestrian crossing has taken an unexpected twist.

Kirklees Council wants to operate a puffin crossing outside the home of Robin and Angela Wray on New Mill Road in Wooldale.

And they seem set on switching on the crossing – even though the couple won a long battle to use the same site as a front driveway for their home.

In June 2007 the council gave the Wrays planning permission for the driveway.

But four months later Kirklees decided to build a puffin crossing opposite their house.

The crossing was installed in spring 2008 but orange hoods were placed over the lights and the crossing has never been turned on.

In September 2009 Kirklees issued a stopping-up order to prevent the Wrays’ driveway being used by vehicles. The couple appealed and a public inquiry decided last month that they could continue using their drive.

But now the council looks set to decide that the crossing can be opened – even though the Wrays will continue to use it to access their driveway.

Yesterday Mr Wray said: “You would have a crossing up the middle of someone’s drive. It would be an untenable situation and I would be worried about safety if this went ahead.”