Buy back bid rejected

Campaign group Project Mirfield told the Reporter they had secured money to buy back the Balderstone Hall fields at the end of last month.

But this week Mirfield town councillor Martyn Bolt said he had spoken to Bellway Homes managing director, David Jones.

Bellway Homes want to build 136 homes on the land off Hepworth Lane.

Coun Bolt posted a comment from a telephone conversation with Mr Jones on Facebook which read: “Bellway would not consider any offer for that land at the moment, in particular for agricultural value.”

The comment provoked an angry response from Steve Benson of Project Mirfield, who said Coun Bolt “could just have blown all our hard work.”

Mr Benson announced that he had recruited unnamed investors who were willing to stump up the cash to buy the 11.2 acre site at a press photo call in December. He did want to comment about the latest developments.

Speaking to the Reporter, Coun Bolt said the buy back bid was in the public domain. He added: “As a representative people ask me what is happening with Bellway.

“This is an extremely important issue for the people of Mirfield.”

“Mr Jones made it clear to me that to sell the land at agricultural rate would make a loss.”

Meanwhile, two cameras were put up outside Crossley Fields Junior and Infant School. They are believed to have been put up by NDC Surveillance and Access Technology for consulting engineers Sandersons Associates to monitor traffic near the Bellway site. Town councillors James and Kath Taylor raised concerns about child protection at Mirfield Town Council on Tuesday. The cameras were up from 10am on Monday till around 6pm on Wednesday.

Bellway and Kirklees Council did not want to comment.