(Image: Newsquest)
The widening of one of Bradford’s busiest roads could put pupils at a large school at risk – a meeting has heard.
On Thursday, Bradford Council’s Executive agreed to move ahead with a £69 million scheme to improve the A650 corridor, including Wakefield Road and Tong Street.
The money has come from West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Department for Transport, and at the meeting the council’s Reform UK Executive voted to push ahead with the long-planned scheme.
But they said the inclusion of cycle facilities and bus lanes meant that it had been a “difficult decision” to support the plans.
Tong Street (Image: T&A)
Tong School concerns
At the same meeting concerns were raised about the Tong Street element of the work – which would see the busy street widened.
Councillor Matt Edwards (Holme Wood and Bierley) said widening the road would require the pavement in front of Tong Leadership Academy.
He told the meeting that it would mean pupils walking out of school would immediately face a dual carriageway.
There have been three serious incidents involving pupils outside the school in the last 18 months.
What are the works?
The two linked schemes have been in the pipeline for years.
Phase 1 involves Wakefield Road and will see the introduction of new bus lanes, improved cycling facilities, tree planting and public realm improvements.
Wakefield Road (Image: Mike Simmonds)
There will also be new pedestrian crossings, some of which will replace existing pedestrian underpasses.
Phase 2 will be to upgrade Tong Street, and would see the widening the road to provide two lanes of traffic in each direction, a new cycle lane, improved pedestrian crossings and upgraded junctions.
What the council has said
At the Executive meeting Dave Shepherd, Director of Place, said the works “achieved a balance between supporting walking, wheeling and cycling and keeping the roads operating successfully for motor traffic.”
Councillor Andrew Judson, deputy leader of the council, said: “Collectively, the Executive shares concerns raised in the public consultation regarding Phase 1: Wakefield Road.
“It would not have been our preference to include cycle and bus lanes, which risk increased motorist confusion and traffic congestion.
"Furthermore, cycle lanes had previously been installed along Wakefield Road on a temporary, experimental basis and were removed.
“We remain unconvinced that their poor use justifies re-introduction, albeit more limited re-introduction. Officers have, however, assured Executive that cycle and bus lanes included are the minimum possible provision required to access external WYCA funding.
“Regarding Phase 2, Executive recognises issues to be resolved along Tong Street, and we believe that this aspect of the Improvement Project will be beneficial to Bradford residents.
"Widening roads should improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and ensure more reliable journey times.
"Additionally, improved footways and the introduction of new pedestrian crossings will enhance road safety, which was also a widespread concern raised in the public consultation.
“In order to achieve the benefits of Phase 2 and access significant external funding, which we are enormously grateful to WYCA for, the Executive has made the difficult decision, on balance, to support continued progression of the A650 Improvement Project.
“Separately, however, our Administration will make representations to the combined authority.
"We again reiterate our gratitude for WYCA investment in Bradford district, but funding awards should not necessitate cycle and bus lanes which do not enjoy public support and, on occasion, do not provide any additional help.”
Councillor speaks of concerns
Councillor Edwards has long raised concerns about the Tong Street scheme, told the meeting: “The reason this project has never got anywhere is that there was no way of widening that road at Tong School without taking away pavements, because of the cemetery.
“We’re going to make part of the road a dual carriageway and then have it come back into a single lane.
"You’re just going to move the bottleneck from where it is now to a different part of the district.”
'Millions of pounds and years of disruption, for what?'
The Executive said the scheme could be amended as it progresses to the next stage.
Speaking after the meeting, Cllr Edwards added: “You can’t tweak reality.
"There is no sensible way to make that road safer for pupils at Tong School while widening it without narrowing the pavement.
"The only ways to find the space would be to knock down houses or move the cemetery, and the cost of either would be astronomical.
“I really struggle to see what this is going to achieve.
"Only part of the road is being widened, so traffic will still have to squeeze back into one lane further along.
"This is going to cost millions and cause years of disruption, and for what?
“The last Labour administration drew up this scheme and ignored local councillors and residents at every turn.
"The new Reform administration says it has reservations, but so far it has done nothing to change it and today just rubber-stamped Labour’s scheme.”