2nd class education?

This is a press release I sent to the local papers following yesterdays disgraceful Plans Panel decision on Daisy Hill Close.

A “u turn” on a controversial housing application on a Greenfield site in Morley by Labour Councillors on a Plans Panel will lead to a second class education for local children claimed a local councillor. Morley Borough Independent Councillor Robert Finnigan had convinced Plans Panel members to reject the application for 14 houses on the Daisy Hill Close site at its August meeting following a site visit but Labour Councillors reversed the decision at its meeting this week and agreed to give Developers Planning Permission.


Cllr Finnigan said “This application was refused last month as councillors accepted that the local schools had no space available to offer school places for the schoolchildren this site would generate. They also had concerns that this site is not sustainable because of poor bus services serving the location and overcrowded local trains. Planners confirmed this was the case at this month’s meeting but Labour councillors reversed their previous position and voted to accept it.”

Councillors were also given a report that confirmed the road network leading to Daisy Hill Close was inadequate and that some train were so full they could not take any passengers from Morley station.

Cllr Finnigan said “The greatest losers because of this decision will be local children. All primary and secondary schools in Morley will be full by 2016 with children already living in the community but this development – adding to the new developments of 177 houses on Bruntcliffe Road and 98 houses at Daisy Hill - will leave large numbers of schoolchildren with no place to go. The only option will be to increase class sizes or to crane in portacabins to deal with this increase. This is offering local children a second class education and this is not acceptable.”

This is the second time Labour Councillors have overturned a refusal decision. The controversial Daisy Hill application was initially refused last year but was brought back in front of different members who refused it at a later meeting.