PLANS for a Flockton bypass are ‘certainly not scuppered’ a councillor has promised.

The village, between Huddersfield and Wakefield, has long been used as a ‘rat run’ for lorries travelling to and from the M1.

So when news that councillors were discussing a long awaited bypass broke back in February, many residents were delighted.

But after almost three months of silence some locals thought it might have been shelved.

Kirkburton Parish councillor for Flockton, Jimmy Paxton, said he was starting to doubt if it was really going ahead.

“We’ve been waiting for 50 years and we’re no closer now,” he said. “We were told that there would be a major announcement in March and we’ve heard nothing.”

Clr Paxton went on to claim that he had spoken to a highways officer who had told him that the bypass was not a priority.

But Clr Adrian Murphy, a member of Kirklees Council’s planning and highways committee, said plans for a survey of residents had been delayed by the local elections.

He said: “I wanted to do something with no names on it, but it was classed as electioneering, so we’ve waited until after the elections.

“But it’s definitely going ahead – it’s been agreed by David Hall, the council’s cabinet member for transport, and highways are putting part of their budget aside for it.”

Clr Murphy, whose Kirkburton ward includes Flockton, added that all residents of Flockton would be consulted and would receive a survey through their door.

A feasibility study will then be done before any design or construction work is undertaken.