Bruntcliffe Road Campaign Continues

Morley Borough Independent Councillors are to oppose an application for housing development on Bruntcliffe Road from Barratt homes. The site, adjacent to Scott Lane, is a Greenfield site which was subject to an application in the past for an industrial estate.

Cllr Judith Elliott said “We are consistent in opposing any development on this Greenfield site. Bruntcliffe Road cannot take the additional traffic and housing on this site will put unrealistic demands on local schools and health centres which will be unable to cope. Although this proposal it at a pre-application stage we believe it is important to state our opposition from the start.”

The site was allocated for development by the then Labour controlled Leeds City Council in 2001 but, following a change in administration at Leeds City Council, renewal permission was refused in 2007.

Cllr Shirley Varley said “It is clear from talking to local residents that this application for housing is not welcomed. This site provides a valuable Greenfield oasis along this busy highway corridor and to lose it would remove a valuable community asset.”

The Development has the backing of Morley Labour Councillors who support the previous Labour Governments housing targets of 43,000 homes over the next ten years based on targets Labour agreed in the RSS in 2009.

The Developers held a stormy pre-application information evening at St Andrews Church Hall where residents condemned the housing application as unacceptable.

Bruntcliffe Road Housing Application - letter from MBI Councillors

Dear Resident,

You will be aware of proposals to bring a residential development to a Greenfield site on Bruntcliffe Road. We are writing to you to confirm our opposition to this application.
As many residents will remember we campaigned against an industrial estate on this site and were successful in persuading Leeds City Council to refuse planning permission when it came up for renewal in 2007.
We believe Bruntcliffe Road is too busy to accommodate the additional traffic generated by this proposed development and we are also objecting as the site is not sustainable because local schools and health centres cannot accommodate the additional children this site will bring. This Greenfield site serves a useful purpose in providing a green corridor – the only Greenfield area along this stretch of road - and the location supports local leisure activities including walking.
This application in is a result of previous decisions taken by Labour Councillors on Leeds City Council who agreed the development of the site for housing in 2001. Developers also feel confident with this application because of support given by the previous Labour Government – including local Labour MP Ed Balls – who agreed unrealistic higher housing targets of 46,000 new houses in the area over the next decade.
This application has not been formally lodged at this point but we would urge all residents to voice their opposition. Together we can win this campaign and retain this useful Greenfield site for future generations.
Yours truly


Cllr Judith Elliott and Cllr Shirley Varley

Morley Borough Independent Councillors

Councillors addresses LDF meeting

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.