Petition spurs action on accident-hit junction

Over 3,000 people signed a petition calling for more road safety measures at the crossroads

A speed camera could soon be installed at a road junction where several crashes have taken place after thousands of people signed a petition calling for new safety measures there.

The petition called for immediate steps to be taken at the Carr Lane/Cross Lane junction and the neighbouring Sovereign junction in Shepley, near Huddersfield.

Councillor John Taylor, who launched the petition earlier this year, said the junction posed a "serious risk" to motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with local residents witnessing "frequent near-misses and collisions".

Taylor said Kirklees Council had agreed the area qualified for a speed camera to help tackle the number and severity of accidents.

No date had been set for when the safety measures would be installed, but the Kirkburton councillor vowed he "won't stop pushing" until it happened, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS).

'People power'

Taylor said: "I am really pleased Kirklees have listened to local people who have become increasingly concerned about the risks at these junctions, not just the accidents but also the numbers of near-misses.

"I would also like to thank everyone who signed the petition – over 3,100 people – as this would never have happened without their support.

"I am still pushing for further action. I would like to see a reduction in the speed limit to 30mph on the approaches to Lane Head Road from both Barnsley Road and Carr Lane as I believe this may also help reduce the number of incidents here."

Taylor added that the council taking action as a result of the petition showed "people power can make a difference".

Kirklees Council has already made a commitment to West Yorkshire Combined Authority's Vision Zero initiative, which aims to eliminate traffic fatalities and severe injuries on the county's roads by 2040.

Vision Zero plans to reduce the number of people killed and seriously injured on West Yorkshire's roads by 50% by 2030, and to zero by 2040.

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