Pit legacy may force changes on contentious homes plan

HISTORIC MINE workings found on the site of a contentious proposed housing development in a West Yorkshire town could force builders to revise the layout of their plan.

It is the latest twist in the longrunning saga of Balderstone Hall fields, Mirfield, which is earmarked for 61 houses by Newcastle-based Bellway Homes.

Campaigners have battled for two decades to stop development at the site, close to grade IIlisted Balderstone Hall. Now they have called on planning chiefs at Kirklees Council to undertake “detailed and conclusive surveys” to bring an end to the impasse.

Leading Conservative councillor Martyn Bolt said newly discovered mine entries on the 11.4-acre site had led the Coal Authority (CA) to suggest that Bellway should amend its proposals.

In an email to council planning officers the CA said seven suspected mining features did, in fact, appear to mine entries of unknown depth.

And in light of what it calls “coal mining legacy features” that have previously been identified it has pressed for “intrusive site investigations” to be carried out.

For the Coal Authority, Melanie Lindsley said the findings of intrusive site investigations “should guide the layout of the development.”

She added: “The Coal Authority would expect the layout to be revised to avoid building over, or within influencing distance of, any mine entries which are established as being.”

She advised that building over the top of, or in close proximity to, mine entries should be avoided and indicated moving one planned dwelling away from a mine entry “and its zone of influence”.

The news will provide a boost to campaign groups as well as local politicians who have been in the vanguard of the anti-Bellway opposition. The recent discovery of what is believed to be the remains of a 2,000-year-old Iron Age round house with a fortified entrance was described by Mirfield town councillor and Project Mirfield spokesman Steve Benson as “a game-changer.”

The “constant pressure” applied by him and others was highlighted last week by Coun Bolt, who said the latest archaeological update was “a blow” to Bellway Homes’ plans.