May 2016 Update

The day of local elections, and the eve of broken promises! 

There will undoubtedly be 'support' for the LAWRRAG campaign from whoever the councillors are for the next 12 months.  The one thing the campaign hasn't gone short of since 2004 is 'support' from councillors and MPs alike.  'Action' on the other hand, which is the thing that is needed, has been non-existent apart from one elected individual who did more than his fair share but came up against the might of petty bureaucracy, and arrogance from non-elected council officers.  The writer attended many meetings with this individual and can confirm that he genuinely did care and did try, which is more than can be said for any councillor or MP since.

The simple fact is that the campaign started in 2004 and things are worse now that they were back then!  For those of us working in the real world this is FAILURE, our elected representatives (those that still communicate with us) seem to believe that as long as meetings are held every few months then progress is being made!

It is interesting to see that one local councillor is a candidate for the position of West Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (and may well be that person by 6 May 2016).  That councillor is aware that every day the law is being broken by thousands of motorists speeding along the A639/A642 and yet has done nothing to deal with this!

Money for old rope!

Local History website

Just an unashamed plug for a fascinating and extremely comprehensive guide to the ‘history’, and the characters of Woodlesford, and Oulton:

http://www.woodlesfordstation.co.uk

There is a tenuous link with road traffic in that if you follow the links to the Oulton Gala YouTube video you'll see Aberford Road quieter than you've ever seen it before!

More HGV traffic?

This could be a long way off ... it might never happen (pigs might fly), but it is worth considering what the HGV traffic impact on the area will be if either or both of the proposed incinerator sites are built, at the former Skelton Grange power station site.  See the article below from the Yorkshire Evening Post, Saturday 11 August 2012.

Click on image to view

Forget the general environmental impact upon the area, this is the 'dumping ground' of Leeds, it will happen.  We need our councillors to make sure the potential traffic problem is dealt with ... and not listen to the usual half-wits proclaiming that there won't be any impact.

Two years wasted!

We first posted about this back in April 2010, and it now looks as though planning approval for the development of a 100 acre business park and distribution centre, just across the M62 is all-but 'rubber stamped'.
  
Setting aside the arguments about the loss of greenbelt land, and the need for a new stadium for Wakefield Wildcats rugby club, the traffic impact upon our area could be massive!  The transport plan supporting the planning application points to the proximity of the M62, and the M1, implying that this will be the main route for all heavy traffic. This same argument was probably put forward in the case of the major distribution developments at Stourton, notably ARLA, and the Royal Mail, and highways personnel, in answer to our concerns about the East Leeds link road, stated that there would not be any traffic impact upon the A639/A642, as a result of that road opening - THERE IS!


In the July edition of the Rothwell and District Record, Councillor Golton is reported as having said:


"This is obviously a very disappointing decision for local residents." .........
"I have no issue with the stadium element of the plan and I sympathise with the Wildcats' need to secure the future of their club.  But I remain very concerned about the effect that a haulage distribution centre and business park will have about the congestion that this will cause in the area" 

WELL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT THEN! 


  

It can, and does, happen!

We're a little late with this one, it is an article from the YEP, 23 June 2012 about the success of a campaign by schoolchildren in Cookridge to have the speed limit 'slashed' to 20mph.  'Well done' to them.  We have never asked for a speed reduction, just an enforcement of the current speed limit, but what this does show is that some members of the public are listened to, and that some councillors (appear to) take action on behalf of their local communities. 

click to view

Far from a reduction in the speed limit along the A639/A642, Leeds City council highways personnel suggested increasing the limit! 


With regard to what if anything is happening around Royds School, interested parties will have to check with the local councillors, who took it upon themselves to deal with traffic and road safety issues that were of concern to the school ... 7 years ago.