Locals fear a housing development could ‘play Russian roulette with people’s lives’ as plans for 21 homes at Holmbridge have been green-lit.
The highly controversial development, approved on Thursday, 5 December, will see the properties brought to a plot of land off Bankfield Drive by developer Orion Homes. The homes will be a mixture of two, three and four-bedroom houses, which will be accessed off Laithe Avenue, with a new estate road created to serve the development.
Kirklees Council officers had recommended that the Strategic Planning Committee approve the plans subject to several conditions including a £104,880 contribution to off-site measures to achieve biodiversity net gain, £55,932.16 to public open space, and establish a management company for land and infrastructure. On top of this, three of the homes will be affordable.
However, it was very clear that the community did not agree with the officers’ position, with a total of 158 objections received in response to the application. Many of these centred around road safety, with it pointed out by locals plans for the site had been turned down in the ‘90s on these grounds.
One resident, Steve Elvidge, spoke of a problem five-way junction involving Dobb Top Road which he said sees a ‘number of incidents every year’ and is a key route for school children on foot. He questioned how the council’s highways and planning departments could change their stance since the time of the previous application, when considering a junction “proven” to be dangerous.
Referencing proposed mitigations in the latest plans which include a containment kerb and anti-skid resurfacing, Mr Elvidge said: “Despite the vast majority of the 158 objections citing pedestrian safety, the proposed containment kerb mentioned would actually increase the chance of children and other pedestrians being hit by forcing them to walk even further into the road.
“It’s playing Russian roulette with people’s lives and increasing the number of bullets, it’s madness. Other proposed mitigation measures are largely superficial as the layout of the junction and lack of level standing cannot be changed.”
Fellow resident, Rick Cocker, spoke of the “catastrophic effect” that would be had if the boundary dry stone wall was destabilised by development. He said: “The need for more housing, although a worthy aim, must not be allowed to take precedence over the safety of valley residents.”
Candy Day, Technical Manager at Orion Homes addressed some of the highways concerns and said the developer had been through a “huge amount” of discussions with the council’s Highways department.
Later in the meeting, members heard from Highways officer Chris Dows, who explained that having assessed the road network, the development would not have a “severe impact”. While the officer said he was aware of previous incidents involving the dry stone wall, he told the meeting that there had been no recorded accident at the junction that had involved a pedestrian in the last 20 years.
Committee member, Cllr Bill Armer (Con, Kirkburton), shared residents’ concerns around road safety. Speaking of potential difficulties in winter, he said: “As councillors we’re all aware that Highways struggles with winter maintenance. We know that they’re saying they can’t afford to fill grit bins on a regular basis so I think come winter, these roads are going to be like skating rinks.”
However, Cllr Mohan Sokhal (Labour, Greenhead), had a different opinion. He said: “Holme Valley towns and villages are famous for steep hills and narrow roads. That doesn’t mean we can’t build any more houses there. Future generations need houses.”
When it came to the vote, four members – Cllr Sokhal, Cllr Jo Lawson (Community Independents, Crosland Moor and Netherton), Cllr Andrew Pinnock (Lib Dems, Cleckheaton), and Cllr James Homewood (Labour, Ashbrow), voted in favour of the application and Cllr Armer, against.
