Local campaign calls for urgent safety work at Birkby junction
Residents and local councillors have launched a petition demanding immediate road safety improvements at the junction of Cobcroft Road and Percy Street in Birkby, Huddersfield, after a series of serious collisions at the crossroads. Campaigners say the frequency and severity of crashes have turned the spot into one of the most dangerous in the area and put nearby community facilities — including a junior school — at risk.
Kirklees councillor Toby Cooper, who took office in May, told NEXO RADAR the junction has seen at least three serious crashes since then. He highlighted one incident in which firefighters had to remove the roof of a vehicle to free an occupant. "It’s a miracle somebody hasn’t been killed," he said, adding that the emergency response to recent collisions has been substantial.
"The fire service has had to take the roofs off cars because the crashes have been so severe… It’s right next to Birkby Junior School and close to community centres and a large GP practice."
Video footage obtained by the Local Democracy Reporting Service shows collisions at the junction dating back to 2019, including one clip in which a pedestrian was knocked into a wall after two vehicles collided. Councillor Cooper also pointed to the strain such incidents place on emergency services: one recent crash required three ambulances and a fire engine to attend.
What campaigners want
The Give Way sign installed recently at the junction is regarded by campaigners as only a first step. The petition, which organisers hope will prompt further action, will be formally presented to Kirklees Council once Cabinet meetings resume in September. Petitioners are asking the council’s road safety team to consider more substantial measures to reduce collisions.
- At least three serious crashes reported since May
- Collision footage available from 2019 onwards
- One recent incident needed three ambulances and a fire engine
- Give Way sign installed, but residents demand further safety work
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Cobcroft Road / Percy Street, Birkby, Huddersfield |
| Reported serious crashes | At least 3 since May (per councillor) |
| Historical footage | Collisions captured on video from 2019 |
| Recent emergency response | 3 ambulances and a fire engine attended one crash |
Council response and next steps
Kirklees Council confirmed it has received the petition and referred the matter to its Road Safety Team for investigation. The council’s Executive Director for Place, David Shepherd, emphasised the authority’s commitment to road safety and its Vision Zero pledge to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on the roads, though no specific measures or timelines were announced in response to the petition.
For residents of Birkby, the junction sits uncomfortably close to a junior school, community centres and a busy GP practice — local hubs where people of all ages gather. That proximity has sharpened concern that without further action, this part of Huddersfield could see a fatal collision.
Campaigners are aiming to present the petition when Cabinet reconvenes in September and hope the council will consider a package of interventions beyond the recently placed Give Way sign. Those could include changes to signage and road markings, physical traffic calming, or an engineered redesign of the junction — but any such measures would be subject to the council’s assessment and available funding.
In the meantime, residents have been left juggling frustration and worry. As one local councillor put it, it’s not just about broken bumpers — it’s about preventing the worst from happening on a road used by children and vulnerable people. If the petition shifts council gears, the crossroads may finally get the attention locals say it sorely needs.
