The Cabinet Committee - Local Issues met to discuss and decide on a proposed traffic regulation order (TRO) for Lockwood Road in Huddersfield, specifically concerning banned turning movements at Lockwood Bar. The committee voted to approve the implementation of the TRO as advertised, overruling objections from the Hackney Carriage Association. This decision aims to progress the Huddersfield Southern Corridor project, intended to reduce congestion and improve journey times.

Lockwood Road Traffic Regulation Order

The committee considered objections to Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) No 1 2025, which proposes banning certain turning movements between Lockwood Road and Bridge Street, Huddersfield, except for buses and cycles. This TRO is part of the Huddersfield Southern Corridor project, which aims to improve journey times along the A616 corridor.

The committee voted to implement the TRO as originally proposed. This means that the banned turning movements will proceed, with exemptions only for buses and cycles.

Objections from the Hackney Carriage Association

Four objections were received from members of the Hackney Carriage Association (HCA). The HCA raised several concerns, including:

• Inadequate consultation: The HCA claimed they were not properly consulted about the scheme.
• Conflict with regional transport strategies: The HCA argued that Kirklees is the only West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) authority that does not allow Hackney Carriages to use bus lanes.
• Negative impact on local residents: The HCA suggested that passengers would face longer wait times and increased fares.
• Breach of legislation: The HCA claimed that not including Hackney Carriages in the exemption would breach the Equality Act 2010, as Hackney Carriages are classified as public transport.

Council officers responded to these objections, stating that the proposals were advertised as legally required, and that the new Albert Street link road would mitigate any negative impacts on journey times. They also clarified that Kirklees Council does not permit Hackney Carriages in all bus lanes as a default position, and that the scheme does not breach the Equality Act 2010¹.

The officers' report stated:

Objectors allege that Hackney Carriages are legally classed as public transport, and as such exempting buses from the Traffic Regulation Order, and not Hackney Carriages, amounts to a breach of legislation and/or discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.

Hackney Carriages are not a protected class under the Equality Act 2010.

The report also noted that including Hackney Carriages in the exemption could lead to abuse by private hire vehicles, as the council lacks the power to enforce turning bans on the highway network.

Reasons for the Recommendation

The report recommended that the committee overrule the objections and implement the TRO as advertised. The reasons for this recommendation included:

• The TRO is critical to the successful delivery of the Lockwood Bar junction improvement scheme.
• Removing the banned movements would lead to added costs and loss of congestion benefits.
• Granting an exemption for Hackney Carriages would require a new TRO, costing approximately £770,000 and potentially causing delays.

The report stated:

If hackney carriages were permitted to use the bus and cycle route, there would also be an additional cost of the processing of another Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and site delays at a cost of approximately £770,000.00 which would have to be borne by the Council which may still receive objections and/or not be successful.

Financial Implications

The Huddersfield Southern Corridor project is funded by the West Yorkshire Transport Fund, with a total budget of £13,617,159. Delaying the project or redesigning the scheme would result in additional costs to the council.

Council Plan Alignment

The scheme aligns with the council's ambition to improve journey times, unlock growth and development, and deliver public realm improvements and active travel enhancements in Lockwood. It also supports the council's Environment Strategy by encouraging active travel and green infrastructure.

Alternatives Considered

The committee considered three options:

1. Implement the scheme as advertised.
2. Abandon the element of the scheme related to banned turns for buses and cycles.
3. Readvertise the proposals to include an exemption for Hackney Carriages.

The recommendation was to proceed with option 1, as the benefits of the scheme were deemed to outweigh the objections.

Traffic Calming in Honley

The committee considered objections to proposed traffic calming measures on Bradshaw Road, Honley. The proposals included the installation of two speed humps and one set of three speed cushions over a 200-metre stretch between Derwent Road and Bradshaw Avenue.

The committee voted to overrule the objections and implement the scheme as advertised. The scheme aims to address resident concerns about excessive vehicle speeds and improve road safety.

The scheme was developed in response to resident concerns about excessive vehicle speeds, particularly downhill into the village. Over 360 residents were consulted, and the original scheme was revised following feedback from residents and councillors.

Two formal objections were received during the advertisement period. Officers responded to the objections with evidence from speed surveys and national guidance, concluding that the objections did not outweigh the benefits of the scheme.