Villagers facing snub over plea for roads weight limit

Earlier this year Kirklees Council received a petition from them asking for action in response to European legislation that will result in the increase of the maximum vehicle weight on British roads to 60 tonnes.

The roads named in the petition are Jagger Lane, Chapel Lane, Upper Lane, Ash Lane, Rectory Lane, Clough Lane and Woodhouse Lane.

Emley is situated between Huddersfield and Wakefield and is a rural village consisting of a number of houses but also containing a number of shops, pubs/restaurants and numerous areas of agricultural land and farms.

A report for a meeting of the Cabinet committee (Local Issues) which is due to meet on Wednesday says the scoring system used shows no further action needs to be taken on the request.

Ward councillors were consulted about the issue in July and voiced their concerns.

Coun Jim Dodds said: “The volume and speed of traffic through Emley is an ongoing problem for some years. The village does suffer from traffic trying to avoid Flockton and it is a pity that the scoring (system used to decide whether action needs to be taken) does not require further investigation.”

Coun John Cook said he was puzzled at the low score and said: “This is a perpetual problem which will not go away.”

He said there was a particular problem on Woodhouse Lane which is only just wide enough for two cars to “squeeze past the rat run in a morning and evening only exacerbates the problem”.

Coun Elaine Ward said: “The problem with Emley and HGV has been ongoing for years.

“I do think that something should be done and I would question the scores.”

Despite the low score officers say they recommend that the existing weight limit be reviewed and that new signs be erected where required.

The report says that there a number of HGVs that are potentially abusing the limit and travelling through the popular village towards the motorway.

It says that to counter this police enforcement should be requested for vehicles travelling through Emley towards the M1 once the new signs have been installed.