The Experimental Traffic Order on Hudddersfield Byway 170/10 is now live and the swanky new yellow gate is being closed overnight, supposedly to stop anti social behaviour.
This gate must easily be the most expensive thing on hinges on any Kirklees public right of way. It cost an eye watering £21,407 ! The costs can be found on the council’s contracts register .
In addition the costs involved with the Traffic Regulation Order are some £5,472. The council is being coy about the costs of employing the security firm Admiral to open and close the gate saying these have been “absorbed” into an existing contract.
There’s a couple of footbridges, many miles of strimming or signposts or path improvements for this kind of money. The council continually pleads a lack of resources for positive public rights of way work but happily visits the magic money tree to close a route to the most popular and widely enjoyed land mark in Kirklees. Surely there’s a better way?
Path Watch 