ILKLEY'S MP Robbie Moore has branded Bradford Council's 20mph zone consultation process "a complete sham" after Bradford Council confirmed the controversial and divisive scheme will go ahead.
91% of Ilkley residents consulted opposed the plans, including the 7 Conservative Ilkley Town Councillors, Ilkley’s Conservative District Councillors Andrew Loy and David Nunns who represent the town on Bradford Council, and the towns MP, Robbie Moore.
Reacting to the news, Robbie Moore MP said:
”Well what a complete sham. If we have learnt anything from Bradford Council’s so-called ‘consultation’ process, it is that the whole thing has been a complete stitch-up from the start. Bradford never intended to properly listen and instead they have ignored the 91% of residents participating in the consultation who said they did not want a blanket, town-wide 20mph scheme.
Our Labour, Lib Dem and Green Coalition on Ilkley Town Council clearly do not have the backbone to stand up for the majority of local residents who opposed this scheme. Instead - whilst giving Bradford the green light to proceed - they voted to hand over an £87,500 cheque of Ilkley’s money to Bradford to get the project underway.
A targeted approach to tackle speeding in hotspot areas such as outside schools would have been much more appropriate, and to have spent the money on dangerous road junctions where issues are known - rather than a town-wide, blanket approach.
This decision will no doubt do long-lasting damage to any future public consultation Ilkley Town Council or Bradford Council plans to hold - as residents will quite rightly ask: ‘What’s the point?’
