Delivery

    Who is leading on the delivery of this project?

    This project is being led by Calderdale Council. The improvements will be paid for by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Department for Transport’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund. Calderdale Council have worked with local people and councillors to come up with our ideas and will carry on doing this as the project develops. 

    How will the new proposals for the A629N be funded?

    West Yorkshire Combined Authority has been awarded national government funding from the Department for Transport’s West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund (WY+TF)The Fund aims to deliver a number of strategic transport projects targeted at enabling key development areas and to create about 20,000 new jobs. You can read more information about the WY+TF here: https://www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/projects/west-yorkshire-plus-transport-fund/ 

    Will COVID-19 restrictions have an impact on the delivery of the project?

    By the time that the project has been completed, we expect that the way people get around will be back to how it was before COVID-19It is not currently proposed to hold face to face events such as town halls as part of this consultation given where we currently are in the roadmap for unlocking. However, we hope to be able to offer these at the next stage of public engagement.  

Engagement

    Who can take part in the public consultation? Can I let other people know about it?

    Anyone can take part. Please tell your friends and family about it. Whether you live in, work in, travel through, or visit this area of North Halifax, your views are valuable to help us develop our ideas 

    Please share the link https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/a629n with anyone you think would be interested in taking part in the public consultation. 

    You can submit a joint response on behalf of a group or organisation, please do so by emailing yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk. Please also share the link with your colleagues or members so they can provide an individual response, should they wish to do so.  

    How will my feedback be used?

    We want to understand how people are currently travelling, and what their thoughts are on the current ideas for improvements along with A629N corridor. Your feedback will be used by the project team to develop detailed plans for improvements in this area of North Halifax. There will be another subsequent consultation on these more detailed plans in 2022. 
     

    What will the personal information I provide be used for?

    All personal information (such as age, postcode, gender) you provide will be anonymised and only used for analysis of the key findings and trends in this consultation. When we look at the feedback, we separate it by things like age and gender which helps us to understand how ideas may affect different groups of people. This helps us to develop our ideas.  You can read our Privacy Notice by clicking on this link (opens in a new tab). 

    How do I keep up to date with the A629N Corridor Improvement Scheme?

    Provide your contact information by clicking on the ‘sign up’ banner on the side of the project page. You will receive information by email about the project. For more information on the project visit Calderdale Council’s ‘Calderdale Next Chapter’ website by clicking this link (opens in a new tab). 

    For social media updates on this project and other schemes being delivered by Calderdale Council, follow us on: Twitter: @CalderdaleNC | Facebook: Search Calderdale Next Chapter 

    How are we making this consultation accessible during COVID-19?

    Unfortunately, due to some restrictions in line with social distancing still being in force, we are unable to hold any drop-in events or do other face-to-face consultation. We are taking steps to make sure people in the local community know about the consultation and can have their say by putting up posters, posting leaflets and by providing information to Local Ward Councillors. 

The Proposals

    What if my comment is about maintenance or upkeep of an existing cycle route or highway?

    This consultation is only about the proposals for this project. The best way to report an issue with a road or cycle path is by directly contacting the Calderdale Council Highways Maintenance team by clicking on this link (opens in a new tab).

    What if I have a question or concern about a specific place in a Component (one of the proposal areas), or about a specific idea suggested in the proposals?

    We encourage you to take part in the survey and record your thoughts there in questions about the relevant Component. You can also contact the project team via the Your Voice email inbox (yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk) or ask us a question using the Q&A tool at the bottom of the project page, and we will get back to you with a reply.  

    The plans are not detailed enough. When will we see more detail?

    The proposals as presented are at a very early stage of development. We want to know what people think now before we do more detailed design workThere will be a subsequent consultation on these more detailed designs in 2022.

    Will there be any disruption for access to the area during construction?

    We currently expect construction to start in 2023 and finish in 2024. Once we have more detailed designs a contractor will be appointed who will firm up the construction dates. We will work closely with the contractor to make sure that the impact on all users, local residents and businesses is as small as possible, but there will be some disruption from road works. We will work closely with businesses and communities most affected to ensure all works are done with the minimum possible impact. Calderdale Council is managing the schedule of work, which includes many individual projects scheduled for delivery over a similar period. They aim to sequence the work to minimise disruption for all residents, visitors and other users travelling to/from Halifax. [Link to Next Chapter - Projects | Calderdale Next Chapter ?] 

    How will these proposals affect parking spaces, loading or drop-off for local businesses and Blue Badge parking?

    This project is still at aearly stage, so some of the detail of how any changes will affect specific parking or loading bays is not known yet. The plans presented as part of this consultation show where we are looking to potentially introduce elements of one-way systems, which we are conscious could have an impact on access for local businesses. 

    We know that there are lots of businesses both big and small along the A629N corridor and each may have its own arrangements in terms of loading and unloading. The consultation gives business owners and those serving businesses a chance to comment on the proposals and identify where, if anywhere, they have concerns relating to this issue. 

    The feedback we receive will be used to shape and further develop the proposals in the next design stages. If the proposals change significantly then further consultation will be required with stakeholders and the public. 

    Why are no bus lanes or other segregation measures proposed under the current designs?

    Early in the design optioneering process, it became felt there was a strategic advantage for bus routing along the A629 corridor via Dean Clough. Implementing bus lanes on the section between Orange Street Roundabout and Ovenden Way would counteract this ambition, as well as removing capacity from the A629 for general traffic. As a result, bus lane proposals for the section of the A629 in the scope of this scheme was dropped. 

    Why has a specific cycle lane not been given greater consideration as part of the proposed corridor on Old Lane?

    This idea has been considered during the design optioneering but discounted primarily because the cause the existing corridor is bounded on both sides by buildings. 

    I am concerned the proposals may impact on an area of land I own.

    As part of the work done so far, the project team have been attempting to identify relevant landowners who may be impacted by some of the proposals and engage with them prior to the launch of the public consultation. Please contact us at yourvoice@westyorks-ca.gov.uk if you believe this to be the case, we would like to speak to you and discuss the current designs in greater detail at the earliest opportunity. 

    What area does the A629N scheme cover?

    The project aims to improve the experience when travelling through local centres on the A629, specifically between Orange Street Roundabout to Ogden. The proposed interventions therefore impact the Illingworth & Mixenden, Ovenden, Town and Park Wards. The scheme overview image sets out the full geographical scope of the project along this corridor. 

    How and why did you select this are to make the improvements?

    The Strategic Outline Case for Phase 2 of the Corridor Improvement Programme (CIP) undertook extensive option identification, analysis and prioritisation to identify the schemes best placed to build on the benefits achieved through Phase 1. Eight schemes are now being taken forward under Phase 2 of the programme including the A629N in Calderdale and further projects in Bradford, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield. Further detail on both Phases of the CIP is included later in this FAQ. 

    Has any transport modelling been done on this corridor?

    Transport modelling has been undertaken to refine the designs presented as part of this consultation. This has included the modelling of re-routed traffic because of the proposed one-way on Whitehill Drive and modelling of the Nursery Lane traffic signals with the proposed additional crossing. 

    What will Calderdale Council do to address the air quality along this corridor?

    The investment in active travel infrastructure and public transport aims to reduce private vehicle usage, leading to reduced emissions and congestion in line with the Combined Authority and Calderdale Council’s shared commitment to fighting climate change. 

    How will the scheme affect local residents and businesses?

    We believe the proposed benefits of the scheme stand to benefit the majority of local residents, businesses and others either visiting or travelling through this area. However, the purpose of this consultation is to seek the views of all individuals who wish to comment on the current proposals and better understand their views as to the potential impacts of the scheme (whether positive or negative). 

    How will the scheme benefit cyclists and pedestrians?

    The designs to date propose a range of Component measures with the aim to specifically benefit both cyclists and pedestrians. These include a new cycle corridor, road re-surfacing, improved pedestrian crossing facilities at a number of junctions and additional safety improvements such as the introduction of additional lightening and CCTV to the underpasses at Orange Street Roundabout. The more detailed consultation materials set the proposed improvements and benefits for each individual Component currently under consideration. 

    What do you hope to achieve by making the improvements? 

    The overview scheme benefits envisaged include: 

    • Economic growth - The project will improve access to businesses along the A629, towards and away from Halifax town centre. 
    • Sustainability - Bus journeys will be prioritised, encouraging more people to use the service. Cycling and pedestrian improvements will make active options for travel more attractive. 
    • Safety - Upgrades to cycle and pedestrian routes will make journeys safer. 
    • Connectivity and access - Communities either side of the A629 will be better connected to each other, and access to employment, education and leisure will be improved. 
    • Cleaner environment - the investment in active travel infrastructure and public transport could reduce private vehicle usage, leading to reduced emissions and reduced congestion in line with the Combined Authority and Calderdale Council’s shared commitment to fighting climate change. 

Background

    What is the ‘West Yorkshire-plus Transport Fund’ (WY+TF)?

    The Fund is targeted at enabling key development areas and will help to create about 20,000 new jobs over the next 10 years. A number of strategic transport projects will be delivered to facilitate growth identified in the Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), which encompass: 

    • Improved motorway access 
    • Orbital road improvements 
    • Radial improvements on corridors for better public transport options into our urban centres 
    • Road and rail improvements between district hubs to provide capacity and better connectivity. 
    • Enhanced rail station gateways with increased car parking capacity for park and ride. 

    What is the ‘Corridor Improvement Programme” (CIP)?

    The CIP is a programme of low and medium cost highway interventions on strategic highway corridors on the Key Route Network (KRN). 

    CIP aims to deliver benefits for all road users with an emphasis on reducing journey times, to improve connectivity and accessibility to economic growth sites including those located in spatial priority areas. The aim is also to improve air quality and contribute towards tackling the climate emergency. 

    Phase 2 of the CIP is to undertake feasibility work to consider wider corridor interventions and strategy development to identify further measures to build on the benefits achieved through Phase 1. Eight schemes are now being taken forward under Phase 2 of the CIP including the A629N in Calderdale. The programme is capital funded by WY+TF. 

    Calderdale is in the process of undertaking two separate projects as part of Phase 1, with both currently at Full Business Case with Finalised Costs stage: 

    What is the West Yorkshire Combined Authority?

    The West Yorkshire Combined Authority was formed in April 2014 to be the driving force for economic growth across the Kirklees, Bradford, Leeds, Calderdale and Wakefield districts and the City of York Council area.  The West Yorkshire Combined Authority brings together key decision-making powers into a single body.  To find out more visit: www.westyorks-ca.gov.uk (opens in a new page) 

Funding and Timescales

    What are the timescales for delivering the scheme?

    The project needs to be delivered by 2024 in accordance with the requirements of the capital funding it has been awarded. Construction itself is envisaged as commencing in 2023. A more detailed programme for the scheme, post OBC submission, is currently being developed. 

    When will you have the detailed design/final plans?

    The project OBC is currently due to be submitted in September 2021. If approved, work would then commence on a Full Business Case which would take the proposed plans to more detailed and ultimately final design. 

    What is the total cost of the scheme?

    The total Indicative Funding Allocation for the scheme to date is £6,100,000, as approved by the Combined Authority at Strategic Outline Case. 

    Can the money be spent on other things? (e.g., bus services, other projects)

    The funding awarded to date is specific to the scope of the CIP2 A629N and the programme’s wider agreed objectives. However, if other funding sources (whether capital or third-party match) were added/awarded to the project at a subsequent stage, then these could potentially be used for other purposes in an expanded scope. 

Next Steps

    What will you do with the results? 

    Your comments will help inform the current plans and provide an opportunity to identify any issues that we are not aware of.The Full Outcome Report for the project will be published to the link below once available. 

    Will you keep me updated on progress? 

    Updates will be provided on our website and to those who have registered to follow the project via www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/a629n (opens in a new page)