RESIDENTS have raised concerns about safety on a road in the Holme Valley.

They fear the introduction of a puffin crossing at New Mill Road in Wooldale will lead to accidents and will not deter speeding motorists.

Concerns about safety on the road were raised in 2004, with residents saying the planned crossing would be sited in the wrong place.

But the proposal for the crossing near to New Mill Road’s junction with Springwood Road is expected to be approved by Kirklees cabinet member councillors today.

Light-controlled puffin crossings are similar to pelican crossings, but have the pedestrian lights at the near-side of the road and sensors.

Holmfirth resident William Cleary-Gray said: “It just seems like madness.

“We are very concerned about the siting of it. It is not the right place and we feel that it would create a desire line that children would take across the lane instead of using the crossing.

“It just seems to make no sense at all.”

An initial decision to implement the crossing was overturned in December 2006 after council officers failed to invite objectors to a cabinet meeting.

Residents questioned the validity of the process, saying the cabinet had not been presented with the full picture.

The council agreed it should go to public consultation and a meeting took place in June, but residents said they felt they were unable to make their views known.

Mr Cleary-Gray, a health care worker, added: “The council accepts there have been no accidents there, but say it could create two. Where is the sense in that?

“I pay my council tax and if they are going to put a crossing in then I, as a resident, want them to get it right.

“They should be looking at the whole issue of road safety.

“We don’t want our children crossing on a road where the council have not looked into the whole issue of road safety.

“If we are going to have a crossing let’s get it in the right place now.”

Clr Martyn Bolt, cabinet member for transport, said residents had been invited to submit their views.

He said the prediction of the two accidents were only a possibility, with accidents often occurring when a new road system was first implemented.

“The three ward councillors, Clrs Patrick, Sims and Firth, have done all they can to consult with residents and their survey from the whole of that area shows a support for that crossing.

“We put the safety of our residents first and foremost. Highways officers would not be supporting a crossing in that position if it was inherently unsafe,” he claimed.