Campaigners’ safety fears over traffic in Glass Houghton

Newspaper: Pontefract & Castleford Express. Story: Residents of Churchfield Lane, Castleford, are calling for a one way system to be put in place due to the volume of traffic using the street as a short cut. Photo date: 08/10/15 Picture Ref: AB309a1015

People living on Churchfield Lane claim the street is being used a cut through from Airedale and Fryston to Glass Houghton.

Dad Jason Smart, who lives on the road, has called for it to be made into a one-way system or no through route in the hope of cutting down on traffic using the street.

Mr Smart said: “There are so many people using the road as a cut through it is now getting dangerous.

“The amount of traffic first thing in a morning between around 8am and 9am is ridiculous.

“After a number of accidents and near-misses myself and other people who live on the street feel that something must be done.”

Mr Smart said children use the road to walk to Glass Houghton Infant School, Park Junior School and Castleford Academy.

He said: “My own children go to Castleford Academy now but a lot of younger children who are going to the primary schools use Churchfield Lane and call at the post office.

“We get lorries coming hurtling down the street and we worry about the safety of the children.

“In some parts of the road the houses don’t have drives so there are a lot of cars parked on the road.”

Mr Smart said people living on the street would like highways bosses at Wakefield Council to take action.

He said: “We would love to see a no through road restriction put in place to stop people using it as a shortcut.

“Failing that, even a one-way system on the street would work so that it would at least decrease the amount of traffic coming through Churchfield Lane.”

Wakefield Council has carried out a review of accident data, traffic levels and the speed of motorists using Churchfield Lane.

But Graham West, Wakefield Council’s highways network manager, said the council found it would affect surrounding routes if a one-way system was installed.

He said: “We are aware that some residents are concerned about Churchfield Lane and have carried out a detailed review of the accident data, speeding and traffic flows.

“We need to use this data to enable us to identify where there are issues and the best solutions.

“Based on all this information we couldn’t support the introduction of a one way system or restricted HGV access nor do we believe it would be beneficial to the wider road network.

“However, we will continue to monitor the road.”