Halifax village HGV restrictions not enforced - residents

Calderdale Council says it has contacted HGV companies and sat nav firms about the weight restriction

Residents of a village near Halifax are calling on authorities to do more to enforce HGV weight restrictions as passing lorries make their walls shake.

Calderdale Council introduced a 3.5 tonne limit for Jumples Crag in Mixenden in 2023, banning heavier vehicles from the lane.

Residents say they have been passed between the police and the council over who should enforce the restriction.

West Yorkshire Police and the council said they were acting on the concerns.

Residents have written to Halifax's Labour MP Holly Lynch describing the responses they had received from a range of agencies, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Clare Simeunovich wrote: "The police commissioner believes it is not their job. It is the job of the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

"DVSA believe 3.5T restrictions is down to the council to manage. The council tell residents the police must police the restrictions."

She added: "The police have big ideas but not given any time frame to organise stopping the ongoing 325-plus illegal actions along Jumples Crag - we hear one poor excuse going round each agency."

Jumples Crag in Mixenden has a 3.5 tonne weight limit

Another resident, Linda Thornber, previously told BBC Look North she had been "sworn at and told to get off the road" by lorry drivers.

Insp James Graham, of West Yorkshire Police, said: "We have spoken with residents at the addresses impacted by drivers failing to follow the new restrictions and are doing what we can with the current resources we have.

"This ultimately needs to be a joint approach and one that cannot be solved by policing alone."

He continued: "Equally, accountability needs to be with the drivers who choose not to abide by the restrictions or take note of the signage displayed.

"We will continue to support Calderdale Council and Highways as part of the Calderdale Road Safety Partnership and utilise enforcement action where necessary."

Shelagh O'Neill, Calderdale Council's director of regeneration and strategy, said: "We do all we can to help keep Calderdale's roads safe and will use our legal powers where needed, such as introducing a formal weight restriction at Straight Lane, Jumples and Crag Lane in Mixenden.

"We have contacted HGV and sat nav companies about the new restriction."

She added: "Enforcement of the weight restriction is within the police's remit."