Plans for new Dewsbury Police Station spark traffic and parking concerns

Back in April West Yorkshire Police unveiled plans to move from Aldams Road and build a new district police HQ on the former Kirklees College campus in Halifax Road.

The force held a public consultation to ask people for their views and has now submitted a formal planning application to Kirklees Council.

The plans are to demolish and replace the old college building but retain the historic Oldroyd Building next door.

The planning application is asking for demolition of part of the former college buildings, conversion of the Oldroyd Building and the construction of new buildings to include a police custody suite. There will also be decked and surface car parking and a new entrance in Stonefield Street

Residents in and around Stonefield Street have expressed concerns about traffic congestion and a loss of on-street parking.

One objector said there would be a “detrimental effect on traffic” which would “cause congestion in an already clogged up area”.

Another added: “Creating the entrance on Stonefield Street would cause severe traffic issues especially at certain times of the day. Also creating two gates would diminish the parking spaces available on the street.

“Whilst we support the idea of a police station we think the entrance would be better served in Halifax Road.

“The surrounding areas that include Hope Street and Tolson Street have parking issues currently. The loss of parking on Stonefield Street will leave residents with no parking. What are the plans to ensure that resident parking is not lost?”

There were also concerns about road safety at peak times with people going to and from local schools and a mosque.

The objector added: “Access onto Halifax Road via Stonefield Street is precarious at the best of times.

“One of my major concerns relates to peak times; morning school run and school finishing. This junction is extremely busy with most of the traffic feeding onto Oxford Road to access the two high schools.

“I can only conclude that creating the extra entrances to service the police station on Stonefield Street has been poorly considered with no real consultation.”

A decision is expected in July.