A councillor fears the public has been “misled” on plans for the Spen Ringway, with work said to have begun three years ago yet to come to fruition.
At a Cabinet meeting in 2021, Councillor Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) wanted the Cabinet to consider making up the “missing link” of the Spen Ringway in Heckmondwike, taking the route through the town, and connecting with the existing Greenway at Walkley Lane.
The ringway, a disused railway line, currently runs from Royds Park at Rawfolds to Heckmondwike town centre, providing a route for walkers and cyclists.
The councillor asked whether Cabinet could use some of the £1.5m allocated to four Kirklees towns – Heckmondwike being one of them – as a “catalyst” to connect the link. Councillor Bolt told the meeting this would improve active travel, health and provide better access to Spen Valley Leisure centre – promoting some of the aims of the funding.
In response, then-Cabinet member, Steve Hall, assured Cllr Bolt that he could sleep ‘safely and soundly’ as work on the Ringway project was already a week in.
However, years later, the project is no further on, with the council admitting its plans changed due to soaring costs.
With plans seemingly stalled, Cllr Bolt questions whether they ever existed. He said: “I and I’m sure residents of Heckmondwike and the Spen Valley are bitterly disappointed. It appears that we have been misled over the past three years by this Cabinet.”
While the makeup of Cabinet and leadership of the council has changed over the years, Cllr Bolt said he places responsibility with the current Labour Cabinet, with several current members also part of the administration back in 2021.
The matter was also brought to a recent Cabinet meeting by Heckmondwike ward councillor, Cllr Ali Arshad (Community Independents) who said there were “mounting concerns” that the project has been neglected.
We asked the council for an update on the status of the scheme and Cllr Crook, Cabinet member for Housing and Transport, said: “The Spen Ringway was initially part of the A638 improvement project, funded by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund. Due to increasing costs across the sector, the initial plans have had to change.
“The council, working with Sustrans [a sustainable transport charity], have identified key priorities and will now deliver improvements along the core section of the Spen Valley Greenway between Cleckheaton and Primrose Lane.”
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