The Problem:
There is currently NO safe pedestrian access between Batley Train
Station and the town centre. Commuters, children, elderly
residents, and visitors are forced to risk their lives daily by
running through moving traffic at two particularly hazardous
junctions:
Station Road & Soothill Lane
Hick Lane & Bradford Road
Neither of these intersections has pedestrian crossings, despite
being the main routes between a major transport hub and the heart
of our community.
The Danger:
Every day, people are forced to:
Pray and run across busy roads with no safe right of way
Navigate through moving traffic just to reach the station
Risk serious injury or death simply because they choose to walk or
cannot afford other transport
We have personally witnessed children trying to cross to the
station and elderly residents struggling to navigate these roads
safely. It is not a matter of if someone will be seriously
injured—it is a matter of when.
Why This Must Be Fixed Now:
Basic Right to Safety: Safe pedestrian access is not a
luxury—it is a fundamental requirement for any civilised
town.
Public Transport Should Be Accessible: A train station is useless
if people cannot reach it safely. Those who rely on public
transport often have no alternative but to walk.
Children and Vulnerable Residents: Young people travelling to
school and elderly residents deserve to move around their own town
without fear.
Council's Own Commitments: Kirklees Council has announced
£14.5 million funding to "improve accessibility," "prioritise
pedestrians," and "build better crossing points" in Batley . This
route between the station and town centre MUST be included in those
plans.
Our Demands:
We call on Kirklees Council to:
Conduct an immediate safety inspection of the Station Road/Soothill
Lane and Hick Lane/Bradford Road intersections
Install appropriate pedestrian crossings at both locations as a
matter of urgency
Ensure the upcoming Batley town centre regeneration works
(beginning autumn 2026) include safe pedestrian routes connecting
the train station to the town centre
The Time for Action is Now
We should not have to wait for a tragedy before our council acts.
Safe pedestrian crossings are long overdue. We urge Kirklees
Council to treat this as the urgent safety issue it is and remedy
it immediately.
This ePetition runs from 18/02/2026 to 01/06/2026.
Nobody has yet signed this ePetition.