Plea to save motel that featured in Red Riding
A CIVIC society has objected to plans to demolish an “iconic” cafe and motel over its links to a series of books by Yorkshire-born novelist David Peace.
Parish councillors have also opposed proposals to knock down the Redbeck Motel, in Crofton, near Wakefield, to make way for 90 new homes.
More than 180 objections have been made since a planning application to demolish the premises to build houses on surrounding green belt land was submitted to Wakefield Council in January.
Concerns have been raised over the loss of a “local treasure”. Wakefield Civic Society described the building as having “literary significance” due to its links to the Red Riding novels by David Peace.
The Redbeck is featured in the four-book series, set between 1974 and 1983, which have the Yorkshire Ripper murders as their background.
Kevin Trickett, president of the society, said: “Redbeck figures strongly in the Red Riding Quartet. This association gives it a recent historical, literary significance and this is likely to increase in the future. David Peace, best known for The Damned United, is one of the leading Yorkshire novelists of the past 30 years.”
Mr Trickett also raised concerns about the loss of woodland if the application is approved. He added: “The Redbeck cafe and motel is very clearly a local community asset and should not be demolished for that reason alone. The Local Plan housing targets can be easily met without using the site.”
Crofton Parish Council clerk Rebecca Maindonald said: “Councillors had been made aware of significant concern in the community concerning this application. Having already been subject to development in the recent past, the amenities in Crofton were struggling to deal with additional capacity, which would only get worse.
"There is strain on the doctors, schools, dentists and transport links in the village.
“Councillors were also concerned about the loss of jobs once the Redbeck cafe and motel closed. They were also concerned about the loss of a community asset.
“Councillors feel that they could only support development in Crofton if it was for the betterment of the community.”
Renowned for its breakfast special, the Redbeck was established in 1969 and is open 24 hours a day. But plans say the business has become “unviable” and developer Yorkshire Choice Homes has bought and wants to build houses on the 3.5 hectare site.
A planning statement says: “The business is currently in operation. However, it has become unviable and despite sustained marketing there have been no viable offers to maintain the premises in its current use.” The existing owners “were looking to exit the business and despite a sustained period of marketing, no viable offers were received”.