Campaign for speed cameras near Ilkley Grammar School to prevent a needless tragedy

Barriers protecting pedestrians near the zebra crossing on Cowpasture Road were extensively damaged recently and just last week a Year 9 pupil at Ilkley Grammar School was taken to hospital after being hit by a car on the zebra crossing on Springs Lane.

Now Councillor Kyle Green (Con, Ilkley) and Councillor Andrew Loy (Con, Ilkley) are calling for speed cameras to be installed on Cowpasture Road.

Cllr Loy has been in contact with Bradford Council and West Yorkshire Police to ensure adequate anti-speeding measures are in place. He said: "Urgent action is needed to tackle speeding on Cowpasture Road to keep residents and local school children safe. "The best way to crack down on dangerous driving without inconveniencing the vast majority of sensible law-abiding road users is with speed cameras."

Cllr Green said there was a need for targeted measures to tackle speeding drivers across Ilkley and Ben Rhydding. "It is absolutely clear that we need to see a joined up approach to tackle speeding in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding," he said. "I am working with Cllr Loy to ensure that known hotspots as well as areas outside schools have adequate measures in place to reduce speeding and to encourage active travel.

“While I am determined to promote active travel and reduce speeding, I do not believe this requires a blanket anti-vehicle proposal such as the one proposed for speed humps across Ilkley and Ben Rhydding by the Lib Dem and Green run Town Council. For this reason Cllr Loy and I are working with Bradford Council to ensure that their current scheme to install 100 plus speed humps across Ilkley and Ben Rhydding receives proper consultation so that residents can give their input to any such scheme."

Head teacher of Ilkley Grammar School Carly Purnell said: "Whilst the vast majority of road users continue to demonstrate caution in the roads adjacent to the school, there is a small minority that exceed the legal limit with excessive speed or do not drive with sufficient care and attention. These drivers unnecessarily increase the risk of accidents occurring, potentially endangering the lives of pedestrians. Indeed, last week, a year 9 student was taken to hospital when he was hit by a car on the zebra crossing on Springs Lane. "Unfortunately, this is not the first time that a driver has failed to stop at a crossing, and an IGS student has been injured.

"Schools and families do have a duty to encourage and educate young people in their care to have a responsible and sensible attitude towards road safety. However, this cannot mitigate for the irresponsible actions of a small number of drivers. We would therefore support additional measures to ensure the safety of our students and other pedestrians and prevent a needless tragedy from happening.”

Ilkley's MP Robbie Moore said: "Speeding on Cowpasture Road is becoming a real problem and I commend Ilkley’s Councillors Kyle Green and Andrew Loy for the work they are doing to stand up for residents on this. I am supportive of their campaign for speed cameras to be introduced on the site, for this will target dangerous drivers without having to penalise the majority of people who drive sensibly. I join them in urging Ilkley Town Council to reconsider their plans for hundreds of new speed bumps, which will penalise everyone, and echo their calls for Bradford Council to run a full consultation on this, so residents can have a voice on the matter.”

A Bradford Council spokesperson, said: “The Council is working with West Yorkshire Police on possible remedial measures for Cowpasture Road and Moor Road beyond the Cow and Calf. Two site meetings have taken place with the police and discussions will now extend to Elected Members.”

A West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: "The local NPT team undertake speed watches and speed enforcement and this includes Cowpasture Road. In relation to the RTC, this was classed as a minor injury road traffic collision and enquiries are ongoing."