Councillor Judith Elliott addressed a full meeting of Kirklees Council at their recent LDF meeting to speak passionately against the development at Chidswell in Dewsbury. As readers will know this is an area of greenbelt land adjacent to Tingley and will - if developed as proposed by Labour controlled Kirklees Council - mean additional housing and industrial units on the 40 hectare site bringing chaos to Dewsbury Road and additional demand on Morley schools and health centres.
Many protesters turned up to campaign against Labour selling out local greenbelt and Cllr Elliott appeared on Calendar protesting against the proposal.
Despite her fine rhetoric the Labour controlled Council agreed to support development of this greenbelt site - regardless of the 1200 person march the previous week to protest at the proposal. I suspect Labours chances of holding the relevant Dewsbury seat are somewhat reduced as local residents will see it as Labour treachery when they gave assurances on defending greenbelt land.
And what about our own Leeds Labour City Councillors? Did they turn up to protest? Did they debate the issues with their Kirklees Labour Councillors? Not a bit of it. As ever they were nowhere to be seen and their contribution to the campaign appears to be sending a letter!
The battle continues with a final decision way down the road. LCC will be asked to lodge a formal objection and we will continue to campaign with our close neighbours to defeat this greenbelt betrayal.
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