Plans to relocate 18th Century stone cross refused

Plans to reinstate a 300-year-old stone cross in a new location after it was removed following damage have been rejected.

The Grade II listed Oakenshaw Cross, which was erected in 1702 at the junction of Wyke Lane, Cross Street and Sykes Lane in Oakenshaw, was removed by the council in 2022 and placed in storage.

Plans to move it to a "pocket park" about 65ft (20m) away, were met with opposition from residents who argued it should be returned to its original site to preserve the village's history and help calm traffic.

At a meeting, Kirklees Council's planning committee agreed the cross needed to be returned, with additional highways safety measures put in place.

The cross, erected by Dr Richard Richardson in memory of his wife, was hit by an articulated lorry in May 2021 and by an HGV in February 2022.

Over the years, the community has fought to try to get the cross repaired and reinstated despite the council seeking permission to move it to a new location, the Local Democracy Service reported.

Supporting documents on behalf of the council said the original location would pose a risk to the long-term conservation of the cross and cause highways safety risks.

At Thursday's meeting, Katie Dingle, speaking on behalf of a resident living on Wyke Lane, highlighted an increase in the volume and speed of traffic using the route which is said to have worsened since the cross's removal.

She said: "We would really welcome the return of the cross to its original site, both for historical purposes and for traffic calming.

"As residents, we feel very strongly about retaining our village history for ourselves and for future generations."

Colin Berry, from the Spen Valley Civic society agreed, saying: "It has iconic status throughout Spen Valley."

Councillor Kath Pinnock pointed out that the monument was one of only a few in the country dedicated to a woman, and highlighted a council policy stating that the local authority recognises pride of place as a "fundamental value".

Members refused the application based on the impact repositioning a heritage asset would cause, its historical significance and the archaeological foundations present where the cross was originally sited.

Following the meeting, councillor John Lawson said: "The community has worked tirelessly for the last three years to return this iconic monument back to the place it belongs.

"This result is another milestone in its journey home."

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