RESIDENTS of a village are campaigning to ensure that a historic monument that has been damaged by HGV vehicles will be repairedrather than removed by the Council.
The Oakenshaw Cross on Wyke Lane, Oakenshaw, was hit last year and was awaiting repairs when it was smashed by another HGV in February.
Councillors have seeking answers on how and when it will be repaired, but a report that was sent out last week highlighted that relocating the monument could be one of the options.
Cllr Kath Pinnock (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) set up the petition in response to the report, and wants to make sure "it gets lots of signatures so the Council abandons the option."
She said: "Because it's an ancient monument, heritage planners have to work out how to repair it in a sensitive way which has taken an inordinate amount of time. The heritage planner sent us a report detailing how they're going to repair it, and one of the options is that they will relocate it, which is not acceptable to us at all."
"Okay, it's in the middle of a road but it's been there 200 years and traffic just has to deal with it.
"When residents realised that moving it could be one of the options, they were very angry about it."
Cllr John Lawson (Lib Dem, Cleckheaton) added: "People who live in that vicinity are very very proud of that cross. If you're from the area you've known that cross all your life. It's a part of the location and it's a landmark in that location, it's a significant part of the village."
Allison Kienlen, who lives on Wyke Lane, said the general feeling in Oakenshaw is that residents want it 'repaired in situ' and not moved.
She said: "I think people are scared that if the Council move it to repair it, the council will come up with an excuse to not put it back. It's listed, it's been there since 1705 and it is in the heart of the village. We don't want it moved."
Councillor Naheed Mather, Cabinet Member for Highways said: “The Highways Team have recently introduced a concrete block around the monument, which allows the road to be reopened whilst protecting it from further vehicle strikes. The team are now currently considering the best way forward to repair the structure.”
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