A CONTROVERSIAL plan to shut a road in Newsome has been shelved.

New Laithe Hill, linking Newsome with Lowerhouses, will stay open after concerns from police and fire chiefs.

Kirklees Council had hoped to close the road after complaints it was being used as a rat-run and that pedestrians were at risk because there are no pavements along stretches of the road.

But now, local councillor Andrew Cooper has met with West Yorkshire Police, representing the Emergency Services, and Kirklees Highways to

discuss the proposal and agreed to cancel the closure.

Police reinforced their opposition to the closure at the meeting.

They argued that ambulances and fire engines using satellite navigation systems could be hit.

Some emergency vehicles could be sent to Huddersfield from other parts of West Yorkshire and crews would rely on the navigation systems when responding to calls.

Police officers were also worried about the planned turning circle at the proposed closure point with regard to pedestrian safety.

Clr Cooper said: “The need for a road safety scheme on the road was put to the police as the blind bends and lack of pavement affects not just residents but pedestrians and, particularly, children walking to and from school.

“The police view remained that the closure would still present a greater risk. As a consequence the road closure will not proceed.

“To ignore the advice of the emergency services would not be an easy position to take, particularly if an ambulance was delayed due to the closure.”

Now, Clr Cooper has asked Kirklees Highways staff to draw up an alternative, costed plan to calm traffic on the road as a matter of urgency.

He said the police have indicated that they would be very likely to support a traffic calming option and have offered to meet with New Laithe Hill residents to explain their reasons for opposing the closure.

He said: “The strongly held views of the emergency services have effectively made a road closure a non option.”

There have been only five letters of objection to the closure sent to Kirklees highways and local councillors have found little real opposition to the closure on the doorstep.

This meant the deciding factor was the views put forward by the emergency services.

No decisions on traffic calming on New Laithe Hill will be taken without consulting local people first.