Protest over plans to cut down trees for bus lane.
Protesters have gathered on the outskirts of Bradford to oppose plans to hack down trees to make way for a bus route.
Kirklees Council approved proposals to build a bus lane from Oakenshaw to Cleckheaton’s Chain Bar roundabout in June, despite strong local opposition.
Approximately 50 protesters held banners along Bradford Road in Oakenshaw, citing concerns about residential safety and the environmental damage that removing the trees would do.
The council maintained that the bus lane was part of a bigger plan to reduce congestion in the region, and that it would compensate for tree loss by planting more.
The demonstration was coordinated by the “Say ‘No’ to Bus Lane” movement, which claimed they had not been consulted about the plans.
Charlie Brown, a member of the organisation, stated, “People don’t want this bus lane to go ahead, but it’s not just about not having a bus lane on your doorstep, it’s about saving the ecology of the area.”
Mark Ansell/BBCHe stated, “It will have a severe impact on the ecology, as well as the wildlife and birds that use this route.” “Why is this bus lane heading forward?
It failed the road safety audit and is no longer required because there are no more lineups.” Moses Crook, deputy leader of Kirklees Council, stated:
“We are committed to mitigating any tree loss through a variety of measures, including a new hedgerow, new planting along the site and additional tree planting across Cleckheaton – as well as further afield through the council’s broader tree planting programmes.
“Ecological surveys have also been conducted to verify full compliance with all animal protection laws and our dedication to biodiversity.
“Our surveys also show that some of the existing trees had been affected by ash dieback and were generally not of a high quality.”
Crook stated that the bus lane would be sponsored by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s (WYCA) Transforming Cities Fund to improve future bus travel, cut journey times, and alleviate congestion in the area.
The bus lane is part of the A638 Dewsbury-Cleckheaton Sustainable Travel Corridor initiative, which is a collaboration between the council, WYCA, and the Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (previously Sustrans), a sustainable transportation charity.
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