Cottingley Springs re-visited

I attended a public consultation  meeting to discuss the expansion of Cottingley Springs Travellers site held in Gildersome last Wednesday. I've declared it a sham. The meeting – attended by over 35 local residents who unanimously opposed the expansion proposal but were told by Leeds City Council officers that there was no alternative

Most residents believe this so called consultation process is a sham. Gildersome Parish Council oppose this plan, MBI Ward Councillors oppose this plan – as does Morley Town Council. Residents from both Gildersome and New Farnley oppose this plan. How can the consultation process be anything other than a sham when everyone is told that there is no alternative to this proposal and a planning application will be lodged shortly. It’s clear Leeds City Council is not interested in the views of local residents or councillors.

 The meeting was a stormy one with residents raising concerns about increased levels of anti-social behaviour if the site was extended, breaches of greenbelt planning policy and the fact that Leeds had looked at over 30 other locations for a site and could not come up with one alternative.

I am holding a further meeting to set up an action group to fight this proposal which will be held in Gildersome Meeting Hall on Wednesday 31stJuly at 7pm. I am aiming to bring tougher Gildersome Parish Council, Ward Councillors for Gildersome and New Farnley as well as local residents to co-ordinate the campaign to block this proposal. It appears that Leeds City Council is happy to dump this problem onto local residents rather than look for a sustainable and credible alternative.

I raised the issue with Nick Boules MP – the minister responsible for planning at a meeting he had with him last Friday. I have asked the Minister to investigate the application fully and to consider calling in the planning application.