Landslip-hit Dalton Bank Road to remain closed until at least Spring 2025 says Kirklees Council

A road shut by a landslip since the start of the year is unlikely to be re-opened until Spring 2025, Kirklees Council has confirmed.

Dalton Bank Road, which runs from Colne Bridge round the back of the Syngenta plant, has been closed since January.

Kirklees Council monitored stability of the site in the first few months and said it posed a “serious threat of danger” as it continued to move. Since then the council has been looking at how best to repair the road.

Motorists at first ignored the closure and moved bollards and barriers, prompting a warning from the council.

Diversions mean drivers have to go a longer way around and residents in Kirkheaton have seen more traffic on local roads including outside the school which has led to safety concerns.

The council has another major repair in the pipeline for a nearby road which also serves the Dalton and Kirkheaton area.

Bradley Mills Road behind the John Smith’s Stadium is to be completely closed for six months for widening work which involves the reconstruction of the banking.

The council has said there are “safety issues” and the road, which is being eroded on the edge, is no longer wide enough by modern standards.

Planning permission is still awaited for the scheme with no date for a start but local people were concerned the two closures could coincide.

Drivers warned that Bradley Mills Road safety works will mean complete closure for six months

The council has issued a statement about Dalton Bank Road. In it Clr Munir Ahmed, Cabinet member for environment and highways, said: “Following a landslip earlier this year, Dalton Bank Road has been closed to traffic for safety reasons.

“As the ground has seen further movement, and due to the complex nature of the situation, it has not been possible for maintenance work to start on site, however, staff have been conducting weekly inspections.

“As this is a very complex repair, we have been working with geotechnical groundworks specialists to investigate a permanent fix and agree on how to progress safely and efficiently.

“We envisage the project to be completed by spring 2025, but this could change if any adverse weather causes further damage.

“In the meantime, we are making progress with essential repairs to existing streetlighting and kerbing which have been damaged due to the landslip.

“We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for any inconvenience caused by the road closure from the landslip and thank local residents and business owners for their patience and understanding.

“We will provide further updates in due course as the programme of repair is developed.”

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