Bus plan rethink

Kirklees Council’s highways team had planned to start work on a bus lane on Huddersfield Road between Scout Hill railway bridge and Aire Street during this financial year.

But a report to Cabinet members said there had been a ‘significant increase’ in the scheme estimate from £170,000 to £450,000.

The report said: “This increased costs means that the scheme now doesn’t represent particularly good value for money.”

Instead, the £170,000 will used in 2012/13 for planned improvements to Huddersfield Road between Fall Lane and Dewsbury which are designed to benefit buses, cyclists and pedestrians.

Cabinet members approved the changes, which were part of a revised 2011/12 highways capital plan.

Other changes included:

• An extra £20,000 for a child safety schemes in Ravensthorpe;

• £13,000 for street lighting improvements in Valley Road, Thornhill Lees;

• £20,000 for drainage work in Bywell Road, Bywell;

• £120,000 less for road reconstruction in Forge Lane, Thornhill.