CAR PARK IS WRONG MOVE
HOMES NOT WANTED HERE
IN the Observer on July 24, the PWA planning spokesperson, acting for Reillys Developments, stated ‘the proposals will enable the delivery of up to 250 much needed new homes at land to the south of Harwood Lane... and the Rovers FC Football Fields etc’.
They went on to state ‘the submission of this hybrid application follows extensive pre-application consultation with the local community and Hyndburn Borough Council’. It is difficult to find many people who want more local houses.
Hyndburn Borough Council owns 60 per cent of the Lyndon site and Reillys owns 40 per cent. What of future ‘shows’? If you see the plans in the Observer there will be little space left for any future ‘Harrod Agricultural Show’ or occasional show-jumping and other events.
More than 1,300 of us objected or petitioned the council last autumn against the sale of the land. Our voices were of no concern to the Labour group of Hyndburn Borough Council.
Not one of the local five Labour councillors has shown any support for the people’s view.
The Hyndburn Borough Council Labour group needs the millions of pounds from the sale of ‘our’ green land and future community charges. There is a solution.
The infrastructure of this great town simply cannot cope with the extra 250 houses – 50 of which will be cheaper rental properties which may well affect current house prices.
If the councillors put aside their plan for five-a-side pitches on Windsor Road, which nobody seems to want, the £220,000 allocated could be given to Rovers FC to stay on Lyndon Playing Fields and build their changing rooms. I ask the people of Great Harwood to speak out for their rights and their township to the councillors and Hyndburn Borough Council. Patrick McGinley Great Harwood I WISH to object to the council’s plan to dispose of the land described as ‘310 square metres bordered by Moscow Mill Street and Union Road Oswaldtwistle consisting of three benches and a raised flower bed with an intent to be used as additional car parking’, (Observer, July 10).
I object to this land being used as a car park by an adjoining business.
1. The land is situated at a busy junction serviced by commercial vehicles, coaches and articulated HGV making deliveries to said business and also the amount of private vehicles going to the Oswaldtwistle Mill’s car parks situated next to the venue and also the two further large car parks situated further on Moscow Mill street.
At peak times, especially school start and finishing times, this public space can provide a safe haven for groups of children and adults waiting to cross the junction away from the large vehicles turning into Moscow Mill Street, which would be removed if the current intention to create more car parking space goes ahead.
2. I feel that the public space provides a much needed area of open space and attractive gardens and seating in what is becoming a very commercialised area.
I also feel that looking at a well kept area, an attractive flower bed, is more beneficial as Oswaldtwistle’s first impression to tourists than a limited few extra car parking spaces which are not required.
It does not state what will happen to the trees on this site, are they to be felled for more tarmac?
Let’s make Hyndburn a better place to live rather than bury it under tarmac. Stephen Foster Accrington