Kirklees pub conversion plans spark 'accident' fears as green light secured

A Kirklees pub will become a dental surgery - despite fears it could lead to a "major road accident". This month, Kirklees Council has approved plans from Empire House Dental,

seeking to convert the Shepherd's Boy at Huddersfield Road in Westtown, Dewsbury, into a new practice. The dentist is currently located at Wakefield Old Road and looking to expand,

having purchased the former Ossett Brewery pub which closed for good in August following a decline in trade. In the supporting documents, the applicant says their aim is to bring an empty

local landmark back into use and create an accessible community facility to serve local people. However, some living in the area have been critical of the plans, with four objections raised.

One person commented: “The traffic on the junction where that building is, is already a nightmare, increasing traffic to that area is more accidents waiting to happen. It is already an

accident blackspot. Please consider the safety of the community.” Another said: “The change of use from a Public House to a dental practice will bring an increase in vehicles entering and

exiting the very limited car park, with traffic wanting to turn right having to negotiate three lanes of traffic. “It was bad enough when it was a public house with cars racing down the dual

carriageway coming out of Dewsbury only to cut in at the last second to carry straight on to Ravensthorpe. An increase in use can only heighten the possibility of a major accident.” Three

rooms or ‘dental surgeries’ will replace three former drinking areas on the ground floor, along with a central reception area. Rooms for specialist procedures will be situated on the first

floor, with staff facilities on the lower ground floor, and 13 parking spaces outside. The Shepherds Boy is one of several applications relating to vacant Kirklees pubs. In Cleckheaton,

plans to demolish former pub The Priory and build eight supported living apartments for people with learning and physical disabilities in its place, are still awaiting a council decision.

The pub - which sits at Whitechapel Road and thought to date back to the late 18th or early 19th Century - is said to have been allowed to deteriorate over the past decade. If plans get the

go-ahead, the apartments will be split over two levels with a communal garden and summer house also on site. A target date for a decision to be made on this application is set for today (May

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