Temporary cycle lanes planned with £200,000 grant

With social distancing reducing the capacity of public transport, alternative options like cycling and walking, are being encouraged for making journeys.

In response, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority made a successful bid for a slice of the emergency active travel grant that was made available.

The creation of trial cycle lanes is being planned along a 500m section of Denby Dale Road in Wakefield from Calder Island Way to Holmfield Lane and along a 180m stretch of Southgate in Pontefract into the town centre – with the aim of providing lanes that are more attractive, to new and current cyclists, by allowing a greater distance from traffic. These are expected to be installed in September.

The grant will also help to provide measures at schools across the district - some of which have already been implemented at Stanley St Peter’s School, where parking is restricted and stencils and barriers have been set up to allow for footway widening.

The council is working with schools to identify other locations that require measures which will be implemented in time for the planned reopening of all schools in September.

Measures to widen existing paths, bridleways and cycle tracks by cutting back vegetation is also being developed, while road surface repairs are also being undertaken

Coun Matthew Morley, Wakefield Council’s cabinet member for planning and highways, said: “We’re really pleased to have received this funding to help us install temporary measures to help support social distancing and safe travel around the district.

“We want to encourage our residents to walk or cycle wherever possible, to reduce the reliance on a reduced public transport service and to do that, we need to create safe and attractive facilities and routes.

“Not only will this help free up limited spaces on public transport for those who really need it, but walking and cycling is a great way to get healthy, save money and is better for the environment.”

A bid for funding for the creation of longer-term projects will be made next month.