Huddersfield’s bus gates are ‘killing’ town centre trade, businesses have said.
Three months on from the launch of the controversial bus gates – a traffic enforcement system barring motorists from parts of the town centre – dozens of traders have joined a campaign to get them taken down.
The Huddersfield Town Centre Action Group (HTCAG) has written to Kirklees Council calling for urgent talks on the scheme.
Spokesperson Alisa Devlin said councillors may as well put a “barbed wire ring” around the town centre as no-one could get in anymore.
And she revealed the majority of almost 40 businesses around Westgate and Kirkgate that have joined the campaign have said their takings have dropped by between 20% and 40% since the bus gates were activated in February.
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HTCAG says constant traffic jams on Westgate are caused by the bus gates and several incidences of road rage have been witnessed as frustrated motorists battle their way around the restrictions.
The group says there is “clear evidence” the scheme is not working and is detrimental to businesses.
Take a look at Huddersfield's bus lane below
They say loading bays installed on Westgate and Station Street are useless to most traders and many have had parking tickets and bus gate tickets as they try to go about their daily business.
Mrs Devlin, who has run La Fleur flower shop on Westgate for three years, said the council had “killed Westgate and Kirkgate” and handed a load of business to the Kingsgate Shopping Centre.
“Everybody’s concerned about the future,” she said. “So far 37 members have joined the campaign and everybody’s reported big declines in business.
“It’s not just us, the charity shops are really struggling for stock as no-one wants to drop anything off.”
Mrs Devlin said it was time for the council to do a “u-turn”.
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“It’s the only way of saving the town centre,” she said. “I don’t think this can be tweaked – it needs to be abandoned completely.
“The principal of it is wrong, they’re preventing people from coming into the town centre.
“They might as well have put a barbed wire ring around the town centre.
WATCH our bus gates dash cam video here
“People are skirting around the ring road and going into Kingsgate.
“A lot of customers have said it’s easier to go to Leeds or Manchester.
“Some businesses are going to go under which is a real shame as they’ve just survived a recession.”
Meanwhile, one motorist snared by the scheme has criticised the confusing lay out around Market Street.
Julia Muladi was captured driving in the bus lane and sent a £60 fine by the council.
She has now discovered the cameras on that street alone have generated £27,150 in fines during the first three weeks of active use.
The cameras were installed in February but the council only begun issuing tickets from March 21 onwards.
