The A65 cutting through Guiseley and the lower part of Yeadon is constantly raised as a major problem to the enjoyment of Aireborough.   People have told us that they tend to drive, rather than walk;  as the narrow paths and heavy traffic make strolling unpleasant.  In our place awareness walks,  the problems of crossing the road, pavement widths and the Guiseley gyratory, came up time and time again in pictures.   Meanwhile, research by the Aireborough Youth Forum, has shown that children are very ‘concerned’ about crossing the A65, and hate walking along it because it is so busy.

Now,  the children of Guiseley Infants have highlighted the noise and general busyness caused by the traffic, as the thing they most dislike about living in Guiseley.  In a drawing competitio (,arranged by the Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum and sponsored by Hobbycraft),  they did at school in February 2013 about their main like and dislike with Guiseley,  traffic, and cars, in one way or another,  was the feature they choose to draw the most.  There is little doubt that the A65 is seriously affecting the wellbeing of life in the area  for everyone, from the youngest to the oldest.

So, it is useful that on Friday 1st March,  Martin Stockley,  a civil and structural engineer, with a passion for place making, and an impressive portfolio, including Chairman of Bath Urban Regeneration Panel,  CABE’s Crossrail Panel, and English Heritage’s Urban Panel, came to look at the A65 issues in Aireborough.

We are now awaiting his full report.  But, his basic conclusion was that

• Aireborough Neighbourhood is being damaged by the approach of transport planning allowing strategic movement to take complete priority over all local movement requirements.
• This approach is unsustainable, especially in the light of more potential housing developments, and would increase only increase the destruction of local character.
• It would be possible to significantly alter the current condition by taking a sustainable approach to transport and shared space: this would  mean ensuring that local movement of pedestrians and transport would take priority,  and coped with the longer distance movement.
• The over-use of traffic signals has caused significant damage to the local environment and to local access routes.  Re-design of four key sections of the neighbourhood and adoption of current proven principles of shared movement space could generate a major improvement in the local environment and access to local facilities

Martin gave, as an example,  the work that had been carried out on a major trunk road in Poynton, Stockport – which you can see in this You Tube Video above.

We will publish Martin’s full report when it is ready.

If you would like to work with the Aireborough Neighbourhood Forum on ideas for improving the area, which can be incorporated in a neighbourhood plan,  come to our training event on the 26th March – please contact us on aireboroughnp@gmail.com to book a place.