MEASURES to improve safety at the junction of Railway Road and Brook Street in Ilkley will be put in place shortly.

This is one of the busiest corners in Ilkley town centre, as it is near the train station and a number of car parks.

Bradford Council’s Principal Traffic Engineer has confirmed to Ilkley Town Council the work will be financed through the Return to High Streets Safely Fund.

It is intended to improve safety by tightening the radius of the corner on the south side of the junction. This will prevent vehicles taking a wide sweep at the junction and shortens the distance for pedestrians to cross.

The Town Council queried whether a pedestrian island could also be installed for increased safety but this is not possible because of constraints on large vehicles manoeuvring at this junction.

Ilkley Town Councillor Tom Franks said: “We are delighted to learn of the proposed improvements to the Railway Road junction. We have been in discussion with BMDC officers on this issue as part of our commitment to improving road safety in Ilkley.”

Bradford Council secured £50K from the Reopening High Streets Safely Fund to extend the kerb line and narrow Railway Road at its junction with Brook Street.

The Reopening High Streets Safely Fund is a £50m pot of Government funding being shared between Councils across England to support the safe reopening of high streets and commercial areas post COVID-19.

New paving and tarmac will be laid at the corner, near Station Plaza, where it meets Brook Street, and the area will be slightly extended, giving pedestrians a narrower width of road to cross. Tactile paving will also be laid at each side of this section Railway Road which aids people with visual impairments to negotiate crossing the road.

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Planning and Transport, at Bradford Council said: “I am very pleased that this project is going ahead, as it will greatly improve the safety of this junction.  It has long been a concern for members of the public.”

However, the plan has been criticised by district Councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley), who called the plan ‘a cheap option’ and said it would be better to build railings forcing pedestrians to detour further along Railway Road, with a crossing put in place.

She added: “This junction is recognised as one of the worst junctions if not the most dangerous in Ilkley. For that reason it is treated with caution and manoeuvres there are avoided, particularly right hand turns. “However, that is not to say that it isn’t used by many and at time mayhem exists. The conflict of bus routes, taxi ranks, commercial vehicles for businesses and general congestion at the junction has alway believed the necessity to retain the wider junction.

“I find the plan disappointing, inadequate and the work proposed does have the feel of a cheap fix.

“Surely more consideration is needed on traffic lights co-ordinated with those existing in town, both present and future, railings to prevent pedestrians walking straight down Brook Street and a pedestrian crossing to assist passage down the street. I find the proposed drawing risks added congestion and I fail to see any merit for pedestrians safety.”

Councillor Kyle Green (Con, Ilkley) said: "I have been championing improvements at this junction as a vital and life-saving necessity since I was elected and I am pleased that Bradford Council have finally realised this junction must be a road safety priority, albeit belatedly. 

"While I welcome some aspects of the plans, it is absolutely vital that the taxi rank is moved, barriers are installed and most importantly Ilkley residents are allowed the opportunity to give their views on whether this work will bring about the improvements needed to make it safe for pedestrians to cross."

If any resident would like further information on the plan contact the Town Clerk on email at clerk@towncouncil.ilkley.org