A COUNCILLOR believes a “controversial” traffic order imposed on a busy road as part of a major new development could be rendered invalid by a legal error.

Clr Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) suspects an order made to ease the creation of the Mirfield 25 development by banning drivers turning left out of Roberttown onto the A62 and conversely turning back into the village may be flawed.

He says it prevents residents from easy access to their main road, homes and local shops.

The order, made by Kirklees Council, refers to Huddersfield Road, Mirfield, which, says Cllr Bolt, is actually the A644 from the Miller & Carter steakhouse (formerly the Three Nuns) through the centre of Mirfield to Fir Cottage in Ravensthorpe, Dewsbury.

Cllr Bolt, who has raised the issue with the council, is concerned that the authority may have “slipped up” on its legal process, thus invalidating the traffic order.

He said: “The road Kirklees intends to stop people using is Huddersfield Road, Liversedge.

“I believe this error invalidates the order as it stands, as residents may have seen the Mirfield location and not paid attention as the other is two miles away.”

He has contacted Kirklees Council for clarification.

Work began in April on the Mirfield 25 housing and warehouse scheme, which has been planned for more than 20 years.

The site runs alongside Leeds Road with the commercial and housing elements separated by Taylor Hall Lane – with the housing to the east and the commercial development to the west.

Caddick Developments will lead the development of the commercial site – to include constructing seven commercial units – with sister company Caddick Civil Engineering carrying out the infrastructure works.

Taylor Wimpey will build 160-plus homes ranging from two-bed to five-bed properties. They will include detached, semi-detached and terraced houses with a single vehicle access from Leeds Road.

As part of the development traffic flow has been reduced to 20mph. The speed reduction order, which began on May 25, will run for 31 weeks.

The speed limit, introduced by Kirklees Council, is to enable £3m of infrastructure work to get underway as the 15.4-acre site is prepared.