Todmorden cycle lane planned for Burnley Road is axed
Calderdale Council vows to press on with other parts of Active Todmorden plan
Hello and welcome to the midweek edition of The Calderdale Lead.
It’s another packed news round-up this week with details of the council’s U-turn on plans for a cycle lane in Todmorden, the latest on the road closure between Tod and Hebden Bridge and, of course, our look ahead to the week ahead in the culture guide!
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Council U-turn on cycle lane after residents anger
Calderdale Council has scrapped plans for a cycle lane in Todmorden, which was due to form part of a £3.2 million project to make it easier and more pleasant to walk, wheel and cycle around the town.
A number of residents had been vehemently against the plans for the cycle lane in Burnley Road and over the last few months banners appeared close to the site stating that opposition.
The council has also axed plans for removing parking around Patmos Gardens, which many felt would be detrimental to local businesses if it went ahead.
The Council proposed options for how the Active Todmorden project could work, and consulted on these in spring 2024.
Taking on board the local community’s concerns about some of the plans, the Council refined the proposals and added a further option focusing more on improving walking and wheeling in the town. The Council engaged with the community on the updated proposals in November 2024.
Feedback from that engagement has informed the approval of the walking and wheeling improvements as the preferred option, and it will now move to the next stage of design.
Cllr Sarah Courtney, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: “Todmorden is set to transform thanks to the multi-million-pound Town Deal, which supports our priority for thriving towns and places.
“Through the Active Todmorden project, we want people to have even more ways to travel actively for their health and wellbeing and the environment, and to have better access to the town’s distinctive natural landscape.
“We have listened to what local people want and have decided to go ahead with the walking and wheeling focused option, making it safer and easier for people to get around town. Thank you to everyone who shared their views.”
Residents have been reacting on social media to the news.
Posting on the Facebook group Tod Chat and That, the Todmorden Moving Forward group - which has been critical of the proposed plans - said: “Todmorden Town Deal has announced that they will be moving forward with the Walking Option that removes the planned cycle path on Burnley Road.
“There will still be improvements for cycling in the town.
“We are proud of the work that we undertook to influence this decision, including developing an option that refocused the scheme to include walking improvements and development of National Cycle Route 66 to reach the park.”
Car Freeman said: “Good news for Tod, great news for businesses and overall common sense has prevailed.”
His view was echoed by another poster, Jackie Metcalfe who added: “It was never right for our town, our roads cannot facilitate a cycle lane, and we have a cycle lane already built by the Sustrans which can service cyclists well with some updating. I’m happy that councillors have finally listened to the people.”
The walking and wheeling improvements will be seen from Rochdale Canal to Centre Vale Park, and will include:
Better facilities for walking between Rochdale Canal and Todmorden College.
A cycle and pedestrian route between Rochdale Canal and Brook Street.
An improved walking route between Todmorden College and the entrance to Centre Vale Park, with more facilities like benches, and retained car parking.
A better cycling connection between Centre Vale Park and Todmorden Sports Centre, upgraded lighting on the footpath and in the park, and improvements to the wetland area in the park to prevent overflow.
Wider pavements and dropped kerbs throughout town where needed, and path improvements towards Todmorden Station.
New pedestrian crossings and upgrades to existing ones.
More attractive and pleasant public spaces in the town centre.
The detailed designs for these plans will be moved forward in early 2025, with construction due to complete in spring 2026.
Eight projects make up the Todmorden Town Deal and in addition to work on active travel and public spaces, work also includes the redevelopment of the Town Hall and Hippodrome Theatre; improvements at Centre Vale Park and Todmorden Community College; the creation of a new Enterprise Centre at Ferney Lee; and the development of new sports opportunities for all abilities at the Riverside Centre.
Latest on Halifax Road closure as repairs continue
The A646 Halifax Road remains fully closed for a section between Todmorden and Hebden Bridge with no date yet set for its reopening.
An emergency road closure is in place in both directions at the junction with Stony Lane, Charlestown, between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, as Yorkshire Water carry out major repairs to a damaged sewer.
Work is underway, but due to its complex nature, Calderdale Council say there is currently no timescale for reopening.
A number of diversions are in place with HGVs being sent via the M62 while local traffic is being diverted via the A58 through Littleborough.
Calderdale Council is urging people to follow the signed routes, to avoid additional problems for local communities, as the rural, narrow roads are not suitable for heavy volumes of traffic.
The Council has placed extensive signage on surrounding routes to advise of the closure point and remind people that businesses remain open.
Hebden Bridge, and as far as Stony Lane, can be reached from the Halifax side, and people can access as far as Charlestown from the Todmorden side.
The council say the pavement is currently passable for pedestrians at the closure point, but due to safety reasons there is no access for any vehicles.
West Yorkshire Metro has also put in place diversions or service changes for bus services and school buses in the area.
Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Transport, Cllr Sarah Courtney, said: “We absolutely understand how disruptive this emergency road closure is, and as a local resident I know that people living and working in the area are concerned about the timing and duration of the closure.
“We’re doing all we can to advise people that businesses are still open as normal and would appreciate people’s support, especially at this busy time of year. Our towns can still be accessed up to the closure point and trains are running as normal.”
A map showing the exact location of the closure can be found here.
The Culture Guide
December 21 - Record Fair - Halifax Borough Market
Looking to stock up on a little something special for the music lover in your life? Then the record fair at Halifax Market on Saturday might just have the answer!
Entry is free and there’s a huge range of vinyl from all genres on sale!
(PS. if you do head over to Halifax, it’s well worth a trip to Dukes for a liquid pit stop, especially if you’re into craft beer, real ale and natural wine!)
December 21 - Launch of Welcome to Calderdale: A Celebration of the Borough, by Roger Davies - Smith Art Gallery, Brighouse
This exhibition of new paintings is a celebration of locality, community and culture as seen through Roger’s idiosyncratic vision and informed by his love of life in Calderdale.
As seen on the BBC One TV programme Home Is Where the Art Is, Roger Davies is a modern British painter from Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
His unique paintings have delighted art lovers since his first sold-out exhibition at the Harrison Lord Gallery in 2018.
In his work, perspectives, colours, shapes, and situations are exaggerated, resulting in dynamic compositions populated by figures which animate the paintings.
The exhibition runs until June 28, 2025.
That’s all for this edition of The Calderdale Lead. Don’t forget that if you’ve got a story you think we should be covering then please email calderdale@thelead.uk and we’ll take a look.
Until Saturday, enjoy your week!
Andrew