Have your say on Halton Moor cycling, walking and wheeling proposals

The streets surrounding the schools suffer from high levels of congestion, driving and parking on pavements during school drop off and pick up times, narrow paths, and lack of safe and convenient crossings making walking, wheeling and cycling feel unsafe. The proposals aim to improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools and reduce car dependency on these busy streets.

The proposals are part of the councils ongoing work to improve road safety and encourage more people to walk, wheel, and cycle.

Six schools in Middleton and Halton Moor will benefit from the improvements including:

• Elements Primary School, Middleton
• Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, Middleton
• Corpus Christi Catholic Primary School and College, Halton Moor
• Corpus Christi Catholic College, Halton Moor
• Temple Learning Academy, Halton Moor
• Meadowfield Primary School, Halton Moor

The council is inviting pupils, parents, staff, residents and those who travel in the area to share their views on the proposals, which include:

• Pavement and path widening to make walking, wheeling, and cycling to school safer and more accessible
• Minor junction re-alignment and improvements
• Provision of formal and informal crossing points
• Provision of bollards to safeguard pavements and enforce existing parking restrictions
• Improved lighting

The proposals aim to help build a safe, healthy and attractive environment for people of all ages to walk, wheel and cycle as part of their journey to and from school and align with Leeds City Council’s broader goals of promoting active travel, and supporting Vision Zero, which aims to eliminate road deaths and serious injuries in Leeds by 2040.

Delivered in partnership with West Yorkshire Combined Authority, £750,000 funding from Active Travel England’s Active Travel Fund 5 (ATF5) has been awarded to help develop and deliver the scheme.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport and sustainable development, said:

“The Access to Schools project is a vital step toward creating safer, easier ways for people to choose active travel to and from school.

“Investments like this help toward our Vision Zero Strategy of eliminating serious injury and deaths on Leeds roads by 2040 by creating safer walking and cycling links in key areas of the city and improving road safety for everyone.

“We urge everyone who uses this route—whether you walk, cycle, drive, or take the bus—to share your views and help shape the future of this area.”

Councillor Peter Carlill, Deputy chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transport Committee, said: “I want as many people as possible to have their say, so we can make it easier for people in Middleton and Halton Moor to get around.

“These links will improve walking, wheeling and cycling routes to schools, giving pupils the option to choose safer and more sustainable ways to travel.

“This will be a part of Weaver network, and is vital for creating a better-connected, greener and healthier West Yorkshire.”

Have your say before 11.59pm on Wednesday 18 February:

1. Find out more and complete a short survey
2. Attend a drop-in event, see the proposal boards, chat to a member of the team and fill in an online or paper survey. There are three drop-in events:

Halton Moor and Osmondthorpe:
• Tuesday 3 February, 3-7pm, Starlight Dance Academy (Studio 2), 41 Rookwood Road, Osmondthorpe, LS9 0NJ
• Wednesday 11 February, 3-7pm at Corpus Christi Catholic Club (Function Room), Halton Moor Avenue, Halton Moor, LS9 0HB