Bradford-Shipley Travel Alliance – Page 11 – 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.

Bradford Beck consultation – have your say by 16th January

02/01/202224/06/2022 1 Comment

The Council plans to open a culvert that covers the Bradford Beck alongside Valley Road, between Poplar Road and Briggate, and landscape that part of the greenway between Bradford and Shipley. This was originally part of the Bradford-Shipley Road Scheme but separate funding has been found for it.

You can see the plan, and please comment on it up to 16th January via the survey at https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/BradfordBeck.

There is very little change from the current pathway and grass, but among the general welcome for tidying up the area and enjoying the Bradford Beck, there have been some comments you might wish to consider.

Include a cycle track separate from walkers.
Put in lighting for walkers and cyclists so the greenway is usable after dark including for commuting in winter.
Include a bridge or two for residents on Valley Road.
Dual carriageway on Valley Road will be to the detriment of this scheme.

Third anniversary of Bradford council’s declaration of a climate emergency policies – councillors must do much more

02/01/202220/10/2023 Leave a comment

All West Yorkshire councils declared a climate emergency in the first half of 2019, starting with Bradford on 15^th January and ending with West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) on June 27^th 2019.

Although transport emissions were identified by WYCA in June 2020 as the main source of greenhouse gases, WYCA’s Transport Committee has not considered a single report on the issue since then. Transport emissions have not reduced at all in the past decade.

The expansion of traffic capacity planned for Bradford-Shipley must be reviewed; the investment could be used instead to encourage less pollution from transport, not more. Current plans will generate considerably more air pollution through increased traffic volumes and congestion at bottlenecks. Instances of respiratory illness amongst the vulnerable including children with developing lungs and the elderly with vulnerable lungs is evidenced in our local hospitals and GP surgeries across the whole Bradford area.

West Yorkshire campaigners have said in an open letter to each member of WYCA transport committee:

“It is the responsibility of the WYCA Transport Committee to take the lead in facing up to this decarbonisation challenge, but our submission to you is that so far you have failed to discharge that responsibility.”

In December, Councillors in Bradford learned that the Bradford-Shipley road scheme has been amended, but no details of the amendments have been released. BSTA has always said that consultation must happen with full information about likely levels of traffic and air pollution. A change in the scheme will need approval. BSTA have asked what these changes are, and how they will be approved, and is waiting for a response. Bradford residents need the changes to prioritise the health of Bradford residents, and reduce greenhouse gases.

Monthly BSTA meetings and a Public Consultation event

02/01/202203/02/2022 Leave a comment

The next two BSTA meetings are this Wednesday 5th January 7pm on Zoom https://zoom.us/j/93473523040, and Thursday 10th February 7pm at the Tambourine Café at 38 Bingley Road, Shipley BD18 4RU. At these meetings we will plan our next steps, all are welcome.

Saturday 5th March 2022: a Public Consultation on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s road development plans for Bradford and Shipley, hosted jointly by BSTA and Shipley Town Council. Kirkgate Centre, Shipley – a unique opportunity for Bradford and Shipley residents to listen to and question key stakeholders in the current plans and have an impact on how this important development turns out.

Major local conference on health, climate and transport

01/12/202101/12/2021 Admin Leave a comment

Shipley Town Council and BSTA are to organise a conference on health, climate and transport. Scheduled for Spring next year, we will invite Council and Transport planners, residents and community activists.

Shipley Town Council held the first of their Community Assemblies on climate on 13^th November. Over 60 people filled the Kirkgate Centre with discussion about the strengths of Shipley and how it could be even better. Reduced traffic pollution was noticeably on most people’s list for improvement.

Two good examples of traffic planning

01/12/202101/12/2021 Admin Leave a comment

Birmingham City Council has announced plans for an ambitious supersized Low Traffic Neighbourhood (LTN), spanning the entire area within the inner ring road. The plan would see the city centre split into zones, with roads closed off to traffic, preventing and discouraging short car journeys within it. The traffic restrictions will be combined with significant investment in public transport, pedestrianisation and protected cycleways. A workplace parking levy will be introduced to reduce commuting by car and to help fund the improvements.

The Welsh Government established an independent panel in the summer to review its roads programme. The panel chair was asked to fast track scrutiny of the Llanbedr Access Road and Bypass. She has now reported her findings and recommended that the road be scrapped which the Welsh Government has accepted. A package of alternative measures will now be developed to encourage modal shift, reduce CO2 emissions and reduce the negative impact of traffic on Llanbedr and other villages along the A496. We hope Grant Shapps and the DfT and WYCA are watching and learning.

Source: Transport Action Network