Land decision postponed until after local elections

GREEN Party councillors are fighting to preserve land.

A proposal concerning a number of sites for potential housing development across Kirklees was due to be submitted to the Kirklees Labour Cabinet at their meeting on March 20. These sites included the land between Mansion Gardens and Blue Bell Hill in Taylor Hill and the former Stile Common School site at Primrose Hill. These were referred to as ‘soft market testing’.

However, following representations by Green councillors the item has been withdrawn and will be deferred to a future Cabinet meeting, probably after the local elections in May.

Clr Karen Allison said: “The land off Mansion Gardens is a valued amenity space and we opposed its inclusion in the Local Plan and so we opposed it being put forward for potential development now.”

Her colleague, Clr Andrew Cooper, has previously liaised with residents at Malvern Rise and Plane Street over the future of the Stile Common School site.

He said: “I am quite clear that we had an agreement with Kirklees that no further action would occur before there had been consultation with residents over any proposals.

“I would include this ‘soft market testing exercise’ in that agreement. We will continue to keep a close eye on this issue.” Kirklees Green councillors Julie Stewart-Turner, Karen Allison and Andrew Cooper at the entrance to Mansion Gardens, Taylor Hill which is threatened with housing