Road changes to make a village safer when a new supermarket opens will be debated by councillors this week.
Kirklees councillors will explore a number of road alterations and safety measures for Slaithwaite.
The works totalling £125,000 will be paid for by German store chain Aldi which aims to open a store on the former Colne Mills site, which suffered a serious fire last year (pictured below), by Christmas.
Proposals include making the village centre a 20mph zone, the loss of five on-street parking spaces on Britannia Road and relocating the bus stop further along Britannia Road and providing a new bus stop on Carr Lane.
The future of two zebra crossings will be looked at in light of a recent accident in which an elderly woman was injured.
Fifteen objections were submitted to the plans and Kirklees Cabinet members will rule on Wednesday.
The report says Clr Nicola Turner (Lib Dem) said the money for the road works is best used towards a major improvement project for Slaithwaite, while Clr Donna Bellamy (Con) and Clr David Ridgway (Lib Dem) are willing to accept the 20mph zone, but have reservations about its effectiveness and value for money.
Residents complained of a “piecemeal” approach to the road network, with no regard to the future development of the nearby Globe Mill site.
The report says: “The Planning Sub-Committee considered that the combined effects of traffic generation from both developments can be accommodated in the existing highway network and would not result in any undue highway safety implications and capacity problems.”
But it adds: “Objectors have voiced criticism that this is ‘piecemeal’ and not a comprehensive scheme for Slaithwaite.
“Officers agree that ideally highway works required for both developments should be complementary to each other and should be implemented together.”
They add that getting the Globe Mill and Aldi developers in unison was difficult as the plans need to be implemented before Aldi opens, likely before Christmas.
Kirklees officers say that if the traffic regulation order is knocked back to be re-examined there may “be an ‘under current’ of disapproval amongst the objectors for an Aldi store in Slaithwaite that could not be overcome by new highway proposals” and it may delay the opening of Aldi by up to 12 months.
A 80-year-old woman was recently knocked down on the zebra crossing at Carr Lane. Kirklees officers say they don’t have details but the issue should be re-examined.
In the meantime they’re asking Cabinet members to back the other traffic regulation order proposals.
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