Have your say on safer, greener and healthier streets

Planning is underway for safer and healthier streets around three schools in Calderdale, and local people are invited to share their thoughts.

Calderdale Council is planning to reduce traffic and build a safe, healthy and attractive environment for people of all ages to walk, cycle, rest and play in the streets around Ash Green Community Primary School in Mixenden, and Ling Bob J, I & N School and Christ Church Primary School in Pellon.

The active travel neighbourhood proposals around Ash Green, Ling Bob and Christ Church schools include:

• Raised crossings and wider pavements to help slow down traffic and create more space for walking, cycling and other forms of active travel.
• New and improved green spaces, ‘rain garden’ verges to provide sustainable and natural drainage, and more trees along streets for natural shade and shelter, a more attractive walking and cycling route, and to help tackle the climate emergency through carbon reduction.
• Improved play areas.
• At Ash Green, certain roads outside school would be closed to cars at drop-off and pick-up times to improve safety, air quality and opportunities for active travel.

The work is being delivered by Calderdale Council with funding from West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Department for Transport’s Active Travel Fund.

Cllr Scott Patient, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Resilience, said:

“As part of our ‘Next Chapter’ for Calderdale, which is seeing unprecedented investment to transform the borough through major projects, we’re planning a range of improvements to streets around schools to benefit the whole community.

 

“We want to encourage active lifestyles, tackle climate change and make our streets more pleasant places to spend time.

 

“Fewer vehicles around schools would mean safer streets, reduced emissions, better air quality and more opportunities for walking, cycling, scooting and playing outside, with benefits for local people’s health and wellbeing and the environment. Other improvements, such as more green spaces, would help to create places to rest and interact with each other and build a stronger sense of community, as well as more attractive places and greater biodiversity.

 

“We would like to hear your thoughts on the proposals. Your responses are really important in helping to shape the designs.”

Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire, said:

“Making it easier and safer for young people to cycle and walk for journeys to school and other places, will play a vital role in my commitment to make transport work for communities and tackle the climate emergency on our way to becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038.

 

“That is why I am delighted to see this exciting new project in Halifax progress, so local school children and families can really benefit from safer streets and attractive green spaces, demonstrating just one of the many ways we are committed to tackling climate change.”

Cllr Manisha Kaushik, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee Lead Member for Active Travel, said:

“We are pleased to have worked in partnership with Calderdale Council on this scheme, which will transform the areas around these schools in Halifax, making the streets safer, and it easier for children and families to cycle, walk and scoot to school on foot.

 

“I would encourage everyone in the local area to share their views on these exciting proposals.”

To view the latest designs and have your say:

• Complete the short online form about the Ash Green proposals up until Sunday 5 June 2022 at www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/projects/ash-green. If you do not have access to the website, contact the Council on 01422 288002 and ask for a printed copy of the Ash Green consultation pack. The Ash Green consultation started on Friday 6 May.
• Visit Ash Green Community Primary School (Lower Site) on Thursday 19 May 2022, 2pm – 6pm to find out more.
• Submit the short online form about the Ling Bob and Christ Church proposals from Monday 16 May to Sunday 12 June 2022: www.calderdalenextchapter.co.uk/projects/ling-bob. If you do not have access to the website, call the Council on 01422 288002 and ask for a printed copy of the Ling Bob consultation pack.
• Visit The Hub @ Pellon, 53/55 Rye Lane, Pellon, HX2 0QB on Wednesday 25 May 2022, 2pm – 6pm to meet the team and discuss the Ling Bob and Christ Church proposals.
• Email your comments to activestreets@calderdale.gov.uk