MIRFIELD residents are being consulted over a possible road closure in the new year.

Yorkshire Water has been conducting a scheme to alleviate flooding from the sewers over the past few weeks.

Dunbottle Lane has been closed, but has re-opened over the Christmas period.

But residents at Wellhouse Lane have been complaining because of safety concerns while Dunbottle Lane was closed.

A Wellhouse Lane resident said traffic had increased on the road.

YW is now asking Wellhouse Lane residents whether it should be closed from January 5 when the project resumes.

The resident said he was not in favour of closing Wellhouse Lane because of the inconvenience it would cause people who live there.

He said: "There is no doubt traffic has increased during the road works. Unfortunately it would appear to be the lesser of two evils. To put a barrier across would not be a good move.

"It would increase congestion, emergency vehicles would not be able to gain access to properties on Wellhouse Lane and it would create a massive inconvenience for residents who would only be able to get out on one side or the other."

Crossley Fields Junior and Infants School is sited on Wellhouse Lane and it is feared that massive blockages would be caused if parents drove directly up to the barriers during their school run.

YW says the sewer in Dunbottle Lane is unable to cope with current and future levels of waste.

The project is due to be completed at the end of January.