The £4.5m congestion busting project to widen the busy Calderdale Way will see three shops demolished, the council has admitted.
Calderdale Council has begun moves to widen a bottle neck at Salterhebble Hill, close to Calderdale Royal Hospital. Thousands of drivers from Huddersfield use the road each day.
But it has confirmed three businesses will have to go in order to widen the road – a beauty parlour, a chinese takeaway and a dental firm.
It has said it will also have to use compulsory purchase orders to take other strips of land for new tarmac.
One of the businesses set go is Organic Edge.
Owner of the beauty parlour, Claire Rodgers, said the council had been in touch and she was “gutted” to have to leave.
“I’ve only been there for 12 months so obviously I’m gutted,” she said. “But there’s nothing I can do about it as I don’t own the property, I’m just a tenant.”
READ: Nine months of roadworks on A629 for scheme to ease congestion
Claire said the council had been “quite good” and she would receive some compensation but she was annoyed that a clear date had not yet been set.
“We just don’t know when it will happen,” she added. “We’ve been left in limbo.”
Maps published by the council show five other slivers of land will be seized along the road, from close to McDonalds up to traffic lights at Dudwell Lane.
The council has told the Examiner it hopes to start work in autumn 2016. Construction will be phased along the road and is estimated to take around nine months.
A spokesperson for the council said: “No residential properties are directly affected by the A629 improvement works, however, three business properties opposite Exeter Street will need to be demolished to progress the scheme as intended.
“We have contacted the owner and tenants of these properties, and are negotiating offers to acquire the land needed.
“The council will do all it can to assist the property owner and support will be offered to help identify suitable alternative business premises for those directly affected.”
Council road chiefs hope the scheme will ease jams between Jubilee Road and the junction with Free School Lane in Halifax.
The proposals include widening the highway and upgrading the traffic lights system.
Calderdale Council’s cabinet will be asked to approve the use of a compulsory purchase orders at its meeting on Monday.
Clr Barry Collins, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy said: “The Council’s preferred option is always to buy potential development land by negotiation.
“If this approach failed and the timetable for the A629 scheme was at risk of serious delay, our agreed multi-million-pound funding for the project could be jeopardised. We would then use the agreed powers of compulsory purchase.”
The design images and details of the plans are on public display at Skircoat Library until November 30.
Residents and businesses can ask questions and comment on the proposals at transportfund2021@calderdale.gov.uk and view with the designs at www.calderdale.gov.uk
