Road safety on the agenda as Halifax MP welcomes minister to borough
Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood heard residents’ road safety concerns
Hello and welcome to The Calderdale Lead.
I hope you’ve all had a good week and are enjoying the weekend so far - I’ve been laid up in bed so not had a chance to get out and about but I’m going to rectify that today with a visit to Halifax for a special event (more on that in a future edition!).
Someone else who visited Halifax over the last week was Local Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood. She was invited by the town’s MP Kate Dearden to hear from residents about their road safety concerns.
We’ve got full details below along with a couple of nuggets in the Calderdale Digest.
Don’t forget at the minute we’re running a special paid subscription offer with 50% off an annual sub. Just click here for more details.
So, on with the news…
Calderdale Digest
🎭A new exhibition is celebrating the 125-year legacy of Halifax’s Victoria Theatre.
The theatre building opened in February 1901 and to celebrate the milestone, the Friends of the Victoria Theatre group has curated a new exhibition, which has now officially opened at Halifax Central Library.
The new display marks the first time the venue’s extensive collection of artefacts has been professionally curated and presented to the public in such a comprehensive format.
The exhibition, which spans six display cabinets and two large boards across three floors of the library, offers an immersive journey through the cultural heart of the borough. From its grand opening in 1901 to its status today as a premier touring venue, the display captures the magic, the stars, and the local stories that have defined the theatre, as well as chronicling the changing leisure habits of Halifax residents since the late 19th century.
The exhibition at Halifax Central Library is free to visit and will run during regular library opening hours, until February 12. The theatre will be holding other events and exhibitions throughout the year to celebrate the 125th anniversary
🍾The search for antique old bottles could land you in trouble, if you dig in the wrong place, town hall chiefs have warned.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet were considering the authority’s annual safety report.
Councillors noted it covers a staggering range of issues and responsibilities – including bottle digging.
The report says: “This national issue involves people excavating old landfill sites, or natural areas to search for antique bottles.
“This is a dangerous practice, and unauthorised digging can lead to serious risks to public safety and the environment.
“The council is pursuing enforcement action against perpetrators, as well as monitoring and responding reactively to reports of digging locally.”
Among other areas of safety work undertaken by the council is tree management.
Councillors heard that following the appointment of the dedicated Tree Service Manager, and their small team of Tree Inspectors, there have been significant improvements in the management of trees across the borough.
The report covers topics ranging from attacks on staff to new legislation councils need to consider following tragedies like Grenfell and the Manchester Arena bombing.
Transport minister hears residents concerns over road safety
By Andrew Greaves
The Government’s Local Transport Minister was in Halifax this week to hear from residents about their road safety concerns.
After hearing strong concerns from local residents about road safety, Halifax MP Kate Dearden invited Lilian Greenwood to the town to discuss action being taken locally and nationally to improve road safety.
Ms Greenwood met with pupils at Lee Mount Primary School, one of several schools that have consistently raised road safety concerns with Ms Dearden.
Pupils and Headteacher Ben Normington spoke about the dangers of speeding and unsafe driving around schools, and shared the steps students are taking to encourage safer driving behaviour in their community.
The Minister then joined Ms Dearden, local councillors, and the Headteacher of Withinfields Primary School to view recent road safety improvements funded through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Active Travel Fund.
Accompanied by council officers responsible for delivering the scheme, the visit highlighted how £900,000 of funding from Active Travel England is helping to make routes to school safer and improve local roads.
These improvements included:
Changes to the existing road layout
A new zebra crossing
Landscaping and road surfacing improvements
The visit concluded with a roundtable discussion bringing together families who have lost loved ones in road collisions, the Deputy Mayor for West Yorkshire Alison Lowe, councillors, council officers, and representatives from Vision Zero and road safety charity Brake.
As the Government works to reduce road deaths and serious injuries, the discussion provided an important opportunity for local voices to feed directly into national policymaking, share best practice, and highlight the specific challenges facing West Yorkshire.
The visit followed the recent publication of the Government’s road safety strategy, giving Halifax residents the chance to hear directly from the Minister about national measures being introduced, including:
Consulting on a minimum learning period for learner drivers and mandatory eyesight testing for drivers over 70
Mandating 18 advanced safety technologies in new vehicles
Establishing a Road Safety Investigation Branch
Consulting on lowering drink-drive limits
Tougher penalties for seatbelt offences and new powers to suspend licences for serious motoring offences
Action to tackle uninsured driving and illegal number plates.
Following the visit Ms Dearden said: “I’m proud that this Labour Government is taking decisive action through its road safety strategy, and this visit was a valuable opportunity for local residents to share their experiences and help shape national policy.
“It was incredibly moving to hear from members of our community, particularly those who have suffered the devastating loss of loved ones on our roads.”
Ms Greenwood added: “Our vision with this ambitious road safety strategy is clear: to ensure that people can travel safely on our roads however they choose.
“One of the hardest parts of my job is speaking to families who have lost loved ones on our roads and this is something we as a government are taking action to prevent. No family should have to endure that loss, and this strategy sets out how we will work to ensure fewer do.
“Experts and campaigners have long called for a comprehensive strategy that treats road safety as a shared responsibility – from car manufacturers and town planners to drivers and legislators.
“This strategy, the first in over a decade, shows a government that is not just listening, but leading and together, we can build a safer future for all road users.”
That’s it for this edition - thanks for reading.
Don’t forget that because it’s January, we’re offering 50% off a paid subscription to The Calderdale Lead. Independent journalism is hard to come by these days, and this is the best way to support what I do and make sure I can keep doing it. You can look at the offer here.
Until next time, have a great week!
Andrew