Kirklees LDF in crisis!



Cllr Judith Elliott outside Huddersfield Town Hall before speaking against Kirklees Councils LDF Plan

Kirklees Councils LDF has lurched into crisis following concerns raised by its Examining Inspector that they had not legally complied with their duty to co-operate. This duty - which means neighbouring councils need to speak to each other about their plans and the impact it will have on adjacent communities - was not clearly evidenced to the Inspectors satisfaction and the whole Plan has now been withdrawn.

This is good news for Morley as part of their bonkers plan was to build 500 houses (rising to 1500) and a large industrial estate at Chidswell in Dewsbury - immediately on the border with Morley. This would clearly have a significant impact on Morley schools, health centres and roads and the Inspector was concerned that no sensible plan had been agreed between councils about how this development could be made sustainable.
Labour Leeds City Councils Plan is up for a similar examination at the beginning of July where the same issue - the legal duty to co-operate - will also be examined. It is hard to see how Leeds Plan will pass this legal test when Kirklees Plan - especially on its impact on the Dewsbury Road corridor - was declared invalid because of the same lack of co-operation. Indeed I do not believe Labour Leeds LDF proposals for 8,000 new homes for the Morley area has been discussed with Labour Kirklees Council and its plans for up to 1500 new homes at Chidswell and a massive industrial estate. They both need to and deserve to fail.
It is clear that Planning Inspectors have not interest in fantasy planning and need to make sure that plans are realistic and deliverable. Labour Leeds City Councils LDF in unrealistic, unsustainable and undeliverable. It deserves to fail!

New Public Meeting called

We are continuing our campaign against Leeds City Councils LDF plan at a public meeting to be held on Tuesday 18th June at 7pm in Morley Town Hall. The meeting follows concerns raised by local residents about over development on Morley Greenfield Sites and the crisis of school places which is projected to leave many Morley families with no school places for their children after 2016 if housing development continues at its present rate.

The previous public meeting we held on the LDF was well attended and residents voted overwhelmingly to oppose the housing targets imposed on Morley by Labour controlled Leeds City Council because of the impact it would have on local infrastructure – such a schools, local roads and health centres. It was clear to residents that Morley will be overwhelmed by new development and unable to cope.

The meeting will look at a site specific document which will confirm which Greenfield sites across the Morley area are proposed for future housing development by Leeds City Council. This includes large sections of Churwell, Tingley and East Ardsley as well as significant housing sites proposed for Drighlington and Gildersome.

Cllr Tom Leadley will be providing residents with a presentation of the proposal. The 74,000 new homes proposed by Leeds City Council are not achievable or sustainable. We are not willing to give up Morley’s Greenfield sites for the sake of Developers profits. Local school, roads and health centres can barely cope with present demand. The demand of an additional 8000 new houses across Morley will overwhelm us all.

The meeting will also discuss the lack of school places in Morley from 2016 as Education Chiefs have confirmed that all Morley’s High Schools and Primary schools will be full with children presently in the system.

I hope as many residents as possible can attend and we can hear their views!



Glen Road 20mph zone

Morley Borough Independent Councillors have welcomed a proposal which could bring a 20miles an hour zone to Glen Road in Morley. The road, which runs through a large residential area, has been the subject of requests for speed reduction programme from residents for many years and will now form an initiative which will cover the whole of the Glen Estate.


Cllr Shirley Varley said “We know residents have raised their concerns about the amount of traffic using Glen Road and the speed motorists have travelled at. We have undertaken speed monitoring programmes with the Police and many motorists have reduced their speed as a result of this action. The introduction of a 20mph zone along Glen Road will allow us to bring down speeds further and this is good news for residents who live there.”

The relevant work is likely to be undertaken over the next few months and will include new traffic regulation orders and appropriate signage.

Cllr Judith Elliott said “The reduction in the speed motorists travel at on Glen Road is a priority that has been raised with us by local residents and the local tenant and residents group. We have raised this with Highways Officers and they agree that the area is an appropriate one for a reduced speed limit. This will make the roads safer for all – especially younger children and the elderly.”