Plans to adapt school road for better access

A Calderdale school is planning to add three "passing places" on the single-track route to the premises.

William Henry Smith School, a specialist residential facility for boys with additional needs, is located near a busy junction and down a narrow lane in Rastrick, Brighouse, and due to the wide range of vehicles needing access, safety concerns have been raised.

The school's foundation has applied to Calderdale Council for permission to widen the Boothroyd Lane and Lower Edge Road junction, which will incorporate three passing points.

"The works are modest but will bring benefit", said the plans.

The school caters for boys aged five to 19 with social, emotional and mental health needs, all of whom have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Given the specialist nature of the school, emergency access is also required so the single-track road it is on has led to "significant highway safety issues", according to the plans.

Creating the passing places will involve relocating and reconstructing sections of dry-stone walling to enable the works.

Walls will have to be dismantled and reconstructed in revised positions using existing materials which will make sure the "traditional character" of the landscape is maintained, the plans also stated.

The site is in the green belt but harm to it will be "very limited", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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