Welcome to Ilkley Civic Society
We are a local group interested in Ilkley past and present. We meet regularly to help preserve, develop, improve and research features of historic or public interest in Ilkley. We seek to promote high standards of planning and architecture and educate the public in geography, history, natural history and architecture. We also work with local schools and welcome people sharing information and memories about Ilkley. We reply to all enquiries. Come along to one of our public meetings or guided heritage walks or talks and find out more. Everyone welcome.
Next Highlight:
Dec 28 11am Christmas Walk Blue Plaques Lower Trail with Helen Kidman, meet Old Grammar School Skipton Road
For full programme go to https://civicsociety.ilkley.org/ics-meetings.html
Our interim comments on implementation of Traffic Calming & 20mph zone
Ilkley Civic Society (ICS) has provided public comment at each stage of the processes (since August 2023) that Bradford Council has followed to implement the Traffic Calming and 20mph restrictions in the town.
Whilst always supporting the Town Council Neighbourhood Plan Objective 6 for the ‘introduction of 20 mph zones and traffic calming measures where needed’ to improve road safety in the town, we have always had many reservations regarding the proposed scheme including –
- Poor consultation
- Failure of the proposal to consider measures to improve road safety in the town centre
- Lack of alternatives investigated.
- Failure to fully consider schools in the town.
- Reduced road safety due to driving around humps and at nighttimes flashing headlights.
Since January 2024 when physical work started we have seen spasmodic bursts of activity to install signs and humps on a scheme that was supposed to be ‘effective ‘ by the end of that month according to Bradford Council. Now 9 months on we believe this far from complete scheme does not achieve even its limited objectives, we still have no information on when completion is due and when it can be officially signed off ( by CBMC) as complying with Department for Transport regulations .
Items in the scheme not completed include
-Entry signing not effective
-Repeater signing
- White markings on humps.
Even when completed to the plans provided by Bradford the scheme will have failed to provide –
-Effective gateway signing and road markings
- Consistent signing and markings at all the schools
- Safe journeys for bus and mini bus passengers including elderly people and those visiting the town and using mini buses
-Consistency with adjacent towns including Otley and Skipton
-Compliance with DfT guidance on best practice
-Any alternatives and less environmentally (natural and built) damaging solutions.
- ‘Improve the quality and amenity value of the public realm, open spaces and highway materials’ as proposed in our 3 conservation areas (CBMC Conservation Area Appraisals).
Ilkley Civic Society is aware that another group have undertaken detailed technical analysis of the proposals to determine if the scheme complies with a) guidance and b) regulations and has not attempted to duplicate this effort but to summarise other issues of relevance to improving road safety in the town.
ICS is promoting, with others, for CBMC to undertake an Urban Realm Study in the town centre (where a large proportion of the accidents occur) to study all the spaces within the town centre from both a visual point of view and a user view as a way forward. This study would identify safety and visual improvements for all spaces within the town centre to make it easier for all users to move around the town and in more comfort than at present ICS 11.11.24 rev b 19.11.24
Joining the Civic Society's Blue Plaque on Hillside is the first in a proposed English Heritage Blue Plaques series outside London. It commemorates Daphne Steele of whom many may have happy memories.
