ILKLEY Town Council resolved to support plans drawn up by Bradford Council for 20mph speed limits in Ilkley and Ben Rhydding at its meeting on Monday.

These plans will cover the town south of the A65, with traffic calming measures proposed on those roads where average speeds are currently in excess of 23mph. Department of Transport national guidance is that such measures are necessary to achieve 20mph speeds.

At the meeting, the council received representations from members of the public strongly in favour of the plans, as well as from residents opposed to them.

The plans will now go through a consultation process, led by Bradford Council, including legal advertisement and a period for objections. During this process residents will be asked for their opinions and input into the plans. The town council will join this process and will be doing its best to ensure that the plans finally approved meet the needs of the town. It is hoped that implementation will follow during the next financial year.

The council resolved to support the implementation of the plans by providing match funding up to a maximum of £87,500, if requested, subject to a mutually satisfactory legal funding agreement with Bradford Council. Since 2019/20 Ilkley Town Council has accrued Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) monies amounting to a significant proportion of the matched funding total for the scheme. This CIL money has been received from landowners and developers for the delivery of infrastructure to support development in Ilkley and could be used to support this scheme.

Ilkley Town Mayor Cllr Mark Stidworthy said: “Town councillors were persuaded both of a long overdue need to take action and of the many benefits to all residents. These include safer roads, fewer accidents and injuries, and a more sympathetic environment for vulnerable pedestrians, cyclists and other road users. The environmental benefits include reductions in carbon emissions and harmful airborne particulates from traffic. The proposal will not impair the ability of residents to use their cars if they wish, but will create an environment in which active travel alternatives can be promoted with more confidence. This will also serve to ease congestion and release parking spaces for those who need them.”

Conservative councillors on Ilkley Town Council voted against the plan saying residents should be consulted. They proposed a survey in the council newsletter, ensuring every household in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley and Middleton has the opportunity to have their voices heard.

A spokesperson for the Conservative group said: “Traffic calming is important, but Conservatives voted against funding it at this time, because we believe that resident involvement and empowerment is vital at local level, so people of all ages, abilities and background can have their say in what they want their town and neighbourhood to be.”

Cllr Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said: “Consultation must take place before CIL money is wasted on such projects. If necessary highways should pay.”

Cllr Kyle Green (Con, Ilkley) said: “I am shocked that the Lib Dem and Green town council, who have failed so spectacularly trying to deliver a toilet refurbishment, would not choose to consult with residents over what priorities they want to see CIL money and precept money spent on. I was contacted by the town council during the height of the pandemic telling me they were looking to spend money on this and I told them this was a totally unsuitable time to be considering these kinds of projects while the focus of all local elected representatives had to be on supporting the town and focusing on helping to save lives and bouncing back from the pandemic. To then not consult further with district councillors or residents is unacceptable and I have already written to Bradford Council to ensure that this project will now be subject to a full consultation. I am pleased they have agreed to this. Had the town council bothered to consult earlier, priorities such as improving crossings on the A65, investing in playgrounds and play equipment or supporting local businesses may have been identified as residents’ priorities, or indeed ensuring a 20mph scheme focuses on key areas such as outside schools and on known speeding areas such as Bolling Road or stopping areas being used as rat runs like Wyvil Crescent.”

Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw, Porfolio Holder for Regeneration, Transport and Planning at Bradford Council, said: “We are having our largest roll out of 20mph zones across this district, which improves road safety in both residential areas and areas near schools. 20mph zones have already been installed in Bradford city centre and Shipley, as well as a number of schools and surrounding areas in Keighley, Barkerend and elsewhere in the district.

“In Ilkley we are pleased to be working with the town council to introduce a 20mph zone for Ilkley. An outline plan was produced to investigate potential costs and ward members have been sighted on this already. A consultation will take place with the public after the pre-election period so that we can tailor the size and scope of the project to suit the needs of Ilkley residents.

"This will build on a number of road safety schemes we've recently delivered in Ilkley including improvements to the junction of Brook Street and railway road, a new pedestrian crossing near Ilkley grammar school and a new footpath between Ashlands and Sacred Heart primary schools."