Firms on a thriving business park in Birstall have won a partial victory in their fight to solve rush-hour mayhem on a traffic-choked road.

Kirklees Council has agreed to carry out some of the improvements demanded by companies on the Norquest industrial estate to solve congestion at the junction of Pheasant Drive - the only route in and out of the complex - and the A62 Gelderd Road.

It follows meetings between representatives from the firms, highways officers and Batley and Spen MP Mike Wood.

The work will include repainting the yellow box junction and road markings, upgrading street lights, relocating the bus stop nearer Oakwell Way and providing a pedestrian refuge on Gelderd Road.

Traffic lights will be installed on either side of the junction as part of the new £36 million retail development at Centre 27 nearby.

Keith Robinson, a partner in the firm The Envelope Centre at Norquest, said: "These improvements will at least allow for a break into the traffic to allow us to turn right.

"At the moment you can't even get half across the road during the rush hour. It regularly takes me up to 20 minutes to get out of the junction.''

The firms also wanted traffic lights installed at the junction of Pheasant Drive and the A62 and a left-hand lane provided.

But the Council says it cannot afford £160,000 for the traffic lights - on top of the cost of buying land - and the £30,000 needed to provide an extra lane.

Highways officers say the scheme could happen if each of the 25 businesses on the estate paid £6,000 each towards the bill.

Mr Robinson said: "We don't see why we should have to pay for problems created by other people. It's the principle, not the cost.''

But senior highways officer Mark Fudge said private finance was the only possible solution.

Group highways engineer Tom Ghee said: "We have tried on several occasions to bid for funds from the Government to improve this section of the A62, which would have included a three-leg roundabout at this junction.

"All our bids have been unsuccessful and there is no prospect of the situation changing.''

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