THE Council will not object on highways grounds to plans for a large Amazon distribution centre on the edge of Bradford, despite fears of an increase in HGV traffic on the district’s roads.
Bradford Council has revealed it does not intend to object to the proposals for Cleckheaton and Oakenshaw – but will point out locations identified for HGVs to wait in Low Moor and Tong are not suitable.
The authority’s highways department said it “can raise no highway safety concerns and any likely additional impact on Bradford Council’s highway network resulting from parked HGVs would be negligible”.
It follows a question submitted by the leader of the Green Party on Bradford Council, Matt Edwards, who asked if the Council intended to object to the plans.
He raised the issue following a new Transport Plan that shows Amazon intends to recommend a small petrol station on Tong Street as one of a handful of overspill areas for HGVs waiting to access the site.
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Councillor Edwards said: “It is very disappointing to know that Bradford Council is not going to object to these plans despite the significant impact it will have to highways in and out of the city - especially Chain Bar roundabout, the M606 and Tong Street.
“There has been a significant change to the plans the developer originally submitted and the on-site overspill parking for HGVs they refer to has been reduced.
“This means that my concerns that HGVs arriving early or late will cause issues on highways in Bradford are valid. If HGV drivers are directed to the Denbrook Service Station it will create big issues on Tong Street and surrounding roads. This site has no space for HGVs to be waiting around, so this will be a wasted journey - one that adds to congestion on Tong Street.”
Following Cllr Edward’s question, the Council has responded saying that vehicles will be allocated a specific time and a grace period has been factored into the delivery operation.
It said: “The likelihood of any significant number of vehicles being turned away and having to park on the highway is very small.”
They add that three possible HGV waiting locations have been identified in Bradford – petrol stations at Cleckheaton Road in Low Moor, Tong Street in Tong, and Westgate Hill Street in Tong.
They intend to liaise with Kirklees “to make clear to them that the three Bradford sites lack HGV facilities and should not be recommended as suitable HGV parking locations”.
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