Labour politicians turn on their own Local Plan to fight new homes on green belt
(ExaminerLive 27 March 2019)
A campaign to block almost 200 homes on a site earmarked for housing has received the support of Labour politicians.
Writing on the Cumberworth Road Action Group's Facebook page after the meeting last week, Paula Sherriff, MP for Denby Dale and Kirkburton, said she would be attend the planning meeting to object in person.
Her letter to the council says the village cannot cope with the traffic that would be generated by the scheme and says there are no spaces in local schools.
It concludes: "The National Planning Policy Framework and Kirklees Local Plan discuss the importance of maintaining the green spaces and distinct character of our local villages.
"I believe it is vital that in the pursuit of this, this application is rejected."
New 4,000-home estate on green belt land will be nearly as big as Honley
(ExaminerLive 2 March 2019)
The adoption of Kirklees' Local Plan has been described as "a monumental milestone" by council leader Shabir Pandor.
Clr Pandor took to video to celebrate the final stage in the planning blueprint's journey , and praised councillors and officers for achieving what no other authority in West Yorkshire has so far managed.
In a piece to camera filmed by the council's PR team he said: "What this plan means is that we can now start to invest in our infrastructure and start a period of renewal."
His comments were echoed by Wakefield-based town planning consultant Adrian Spawforth, whose company has worked with the council and developer Miller Homes on the massive Dewsbury Riverside housing plan .
Around 4,000 homes are earmarked for the South Dewsbury site.
Flockton resident and bypass campaigner, David Rawling, commented:
"Guess which way is quickest to the M1 at Haigh? For the western half of this development at least.
"Yet another example of how NOT to keep traffic off the B6118. Or through Flockton. The 20 mph zone won’t be necessary. It will be self-enforcing!
"Strange that Cllr. McBride seems to think our claims for a bypass would encourage more vehicles to use this “rat-run” linking the motorways, yet ignores the effect of what’s happening at the other end!"
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