COUNCILLORS have voiced their concerns over the lack of repair work that has been done on a memorial structure after it was severely damaged due to a crash several months ago.

The Cross, which sits at the junctions of Cross Street, Sykes Lane and Wyke Lane in Oakenshaw, has been left untouched ever since a lorry plunged into it back in May.

On May 25, the 319-year-old listed monument at the heart of the community suffered serious damage after a collision involving a HGV.

Several residents said they heard a loud bang that morning, with one woman saying the crash happened at around 9.30am.

The collision made part of the structure’s bottom come away from its main body as our images show.

The Cross has a long history in Oakenshaw and was built as a memorial to the first wife of physician, botanist and antiquarian Richard Richardson, Sarah, who died in 1702, according to Bradford Museums & Galleries. Richard was part of the Richardson family that built Bierley Hall in 1561, which was knocked down centuries later in 1968.

The Grade II listed monument was first erected in 1703, according to a local resident, but other sources, such as Bradford Museums & Galleries states the structure was built in 1702.

Historic England’s website describes it as: “Market cross, probably late C.18. Slender stone column, with four engaged colonnettes, on four-step circular podium. The column is surmounted by an elaborate finial, the square base of which has a sundial to each face. Important village centre site.”

The incident caused outrage within the community and on a Facebook group for the village at the time.

Cleckheaton Ward Councillor John Lawson feels it is “unacceptable” that no work has been done on The Cross during the six months that have passed since it was damaged.

He said: “This is a listed structure and the fact that nothing has been done so far is of concern.

“I understand that with listed structures you have to do the work properly but there is no sign of any action which is troubling.

“The fear is that the longer this goes on, that it simply won’t get done.

“That other budget pressures will come in and it will consistently go to the back of the queue.

“The condition of the site has worsened over the last few months.

“It is bound to deteriorate even more as time goes on and that is not acceptable.

“We understand that you have to do it right and we have been ensured that there is someone in charge of the project now but work must start sooner rather than later.

“If the site’s integrity is compromised, it may face the possibility of never getting done.

“This is a listed building at the heart of Oakenshaw and we want to include the people of the village to make sure the future of The Cross is secured.

“I want to see work done on that site as soon as possible.

“We have requested a meeting on site with senior officers to discuss the way forward for the site.”

The Telegraph & Argus first revisited the site on September 9 in the hope that work had at least got underway at some stage.

Obviously this was not the case, so we contacted Kirklees Council to find out why.

On September 14, Cllr Peter McBride, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: “The council are currently collecting reports on this work.

“Our priority is ensuring that we appoint a contractor with the right skills to maintain the memorial’s historic integrity.

“We will also take into consideration the logistical issues of making repairs to the memorial with minimal disruption to traffic.”

The T&A went over again on Friday and still nothing had changed.

Cleckheaton Ward Councillor Andrew Pinnock is also keen to see repair action implemented on the site sooner rather than later.

He added: “When it was reported to me in May, I immediately contacted the Council’s Conservation Officer, Craig McHugh.

“Since then I have enquired about progress, and have not been told about any plans yet. It will be a difficult job, I am quite sure, particularly on the question of who pays for the work.”