Panel to look at care home plan
CONTROVERSIAL PLANS for a 66-bed care home at a former school site will be discussed by Calderdale planning councillors at a meeting next Tuesday.
The local authority has received 137 letters of objection and a community objection submitted on behalf of 23 residents objecting to Torsion Care Ltd’s proposals for the former Hipperholme Grammar Junior School at Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, to be demolished and a care home built.
Opponents have claimed the result would leave them with “a neighbouring skyscraper” on their doorstep.
The application was due to be heard by the council’s planning committee in mid-October but was withdrawn due to legal reasons over land ownership matters.
Residents have expressed concerns about highways and air quality at the site which is around 200 metres from the busy Hipperholme crossroads.
However council officers feel the proposals meet planning requirements and are recommending approval.
The latest report to councillors states: “A care home is an appropriate use for a residential area and it is not considered that undue disturbance would be caused to existing residents.”
However residents are unconvinced, and have the backing of some ward councillors and of Craig Whittaker, Calder Valley Conservative MP, when the application was submitted, particularly over concerns about the amount of traffic and resultant pollution in the area.
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