Campaign over homes stepped up
RESIDENTS IN a Calderdale village are stepping up their campaign against the borough’s proposed local plan.
Greetland residents are campaigning against allocation of land for 600 homes which are included in the draft Local Plan, which has been subject to a series of hearings over the last three years.
Following flooding in the village amid Storm Franklin’s battering of the north of England, residents say floodwater from Black Brook, Greetland, deluged fields where homes are earmarked and caused flooding to some residences.
Councillors will consider a petition submitted by residents calling for West Vale, which is in Greetland and Stainland ward, to be given official Air Quality Management Area status – the impact a large number of new homes might have on air quality is another of their major worries.
Residents and Conservative councillors – Coun Jacob
Cook, who represents the ward, and council Tory group leader Councillor Steven
Leigh (Ryburn) – met media
representatives to voice their concerns.
Lyndsey Ashton, of Greetland Pressure Group said land where homes are planned was completely covered by fastmoving water.
“This is why we so desperately need to protect
the natural flood plains by maintaining the green belt on Saddleworth Road which soaks up the floodwater before it has the chance to raise the level of floodwater down here and flood properties and businesses,” she said.
The petition which the
council’s Place Scrutiny Board are due to debate today calls on the council to bring official Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) status to West Vale.