Bradford-Shipley Travel Alliance – Page 18 – We believe any new road scheme between Bradford and Shipley must result in: Significantly improved air quality and safety in all residential areas affected by the proposed scheme, including for all schools. A response to the climate emergency including reduced carbon emissions, increased investment in public transport, walking and cycling, and less motor traffic overall. We request that no further consultation goes ahead without information that shows how the intended benefits of the scheme will be guaranteed.

Leeds Bradford Airport: close the gap between climate and transport policies.

22/02/202122/02/2021 David Robison Leave a comment

It is difficult to credit the irresponsibility of the nine Leeds Councillors who approved an extension to flights at Leeds Bradford airport on 11^th February. Five others voted against. The decision, if not overturned, goes against the government Climate Change Committee’s advice not to increase flights in the UK AND the West Yorkshire Combined Authority commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2038. Leeds City Council has not only signed up for this but has gone even further in aiming for net-zero by 2030.

It seems these nine were persuaded by businesses who painted a gloomy future for Yorkshire entrepreneurs without an expanded airport, and decided to vote instead for a gloomy future for everyone. As the Group for Action on Leeds Bradford Airport says, this is not the end of the story. Hopefully the idea of prosperity based on sustainability gets a better hold among businesses and councillors alike. Which word in ‘Climate emergency’ do they not understand?

The only remaining public consultation is delayed, now due in summer 2021

22/02/202122/02/2021 David Robison Leave a comment

The Bradford-Shipley scheme has funding of £48m approved by West Yorkshire Combined Authority, for which Bradford Council is preparing a ‘Full Business Case’. It consulted in summer 2020 on its proposals for the A650 (Manningham Lane and Keighley Road up to the Branch).

Consultation on the rest of the scheme, the A6037 (Canal Road, Valley Road, and Otley Road in Shipley) was delayed from the Autumn to January and now until ‘the summer’. Apart from any legal proceedings about compulsory purchases or changes to highway rights of way, this will be the last formal approach from the Council to the communities affected, and will give detailed plans for that route which are expected to include dual carriageway throughout.

To read more about the plan and concerns that have been expressed, you may like to read Clean Air Bradford’s concerns here (https://www.facebook.com/groups/cleanairbradford), Shipley Labour Party’s comprehensive report on the scheme here (https://www.shipleylabour.org.uk/blog/2020/11/09/bradford-shipley-road-scheme/), and view the documents associated with the scheme here (https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/bradfordshipley).

What are the scheme’s aims?

22/02/202122/02/2021 David Robison Leave a comment

The publicised aims of the Bradford-Shipley road scheme are to ‘green’ Manningham Lane, introduce a 20 mph speed limit there, add bicycle lanes to encourage a move from the car, move traffic to Canal Road and Valley Road, and reduce congestion.

However, the scheme’s original aim in 2012 was to create economic growth through inward investment, by increasing the capacity of the road system. This aim is still there, though relegated to appendices in more recent reports going to Councillors and public consultation. More traffic along Canal and Valley Roads will add further pressure to the existing bottleneck at Shipley, threatening to increase rather than decrease congestion and pushing up already extreme pollution levels recorded along the road. So, just what ARE the aims of this scheme?

The Bradford Shipley Travel Alliance will be repeating a request to West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Bradford Council to be explicit about the scheme’s aims, and to provide a Benefits Realisation Plan which is required but has not yet been seen.

The conflicting aims and lack of key evidence are identified in points j to s in https://www.shipleylabour.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/24/2020/11/Shipley-CLP-road-scheme-report-approved-6-Nov-2020-Appendices.pdf.

Shipley Town Council joins the Alliance

13/02/202113/02/2021 David Robison Leave a comment

The Alliance now has 9 members, the ninth being Shipley Town Council which has unanimously voted to join us. That’s not so surprising as the Town Council has already made known their serious concerns about the impact of a new road from Bradford to Shipley on air quality and safety in Shipley itself. Thank you, Councillors.

Shipley Town Council Planning and Regeneration Committee 9th February 2021: Agenda

Welcome

17/12/202001/08/2022 David Robison 2 Comments

Welcome to the website for the Bradford-Shipley Travel Alliance. You can find out more about us here.

Please sign-up for our newsletter using the sign-up box on this page, if you agree with our concerns:

Any new road scheme between Bradford and Shipley must result in:

Significantly improved air quality and safety in all residential areas affected by the proposed scheme, including for all schools.
A response to the climate emergency including reduced carbon emissions, increased investment in public transport, walking and cycling, and less motor traffic overall.

We request that no further consultation goes ahead without information that shows how the intended benefits of the scheme will be guaranteed.