Cottingley Springs - the battle continues!

The controversial proposal for the expansion of Cottingly Springs Travellers site agreed by Leeds city Council has been referred to Eric Pickles MP for consideration. The referral was confirmed by Brandon Lewis MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Planning in a letter to me just before Christmas

I am pleased the matter is now to be examined independently by Eric Pickles – the Secretary of State for planning matters. Many local residents believe the decision to grant planning permission for the expansion of Cottingley Springs Travellers site was a political carve-up. This expansion had little support among the Travelling Community, with local residents or local businesses close to the site. It breached both National and Local Planning Policies and that is the area I have asked Mr Pickles to focus on.

Mr Pickles now has the option to call in the application and put it in front of a Planning Inspector who will arrange a Public Inquiry where local residents will be given an opportunity to voice their concerns.

This matters needs to be investigated fully. It is my view that the Planning Report which supported the application and recommended approval was a partial and biased report written to achieve a particular outcome. A Public Inquiry will test if the independence and integrity of the Planning Department has been compromised and will confirm if the decision was a legitimate one or not. I am lobbying Mr Pickles very hard to give local people the Public Inquiry they deserve!