‘Nothing has changed’

Almost 200 people attended a public consultation put on by Bellway Homes at Northorpe Hall this week.

Many attendees rubbished the proposals, with one nearby resident, Brian Hutton, describing the developers as “like a cancer”.

He added: “They only want quality land. It will be like living in a council estate. It will become a concrete jungle.”

Campaigners say Mirfield’s schools and doctors are already under strain and the proposed access lanes to the site are already grid-locked at peak times.

Bellway has yet to submit a planning application, but the plans show 116 homes on part of the site would be accessed from Woodward Court cul-de-sac, close to Crossley Fields Junior and Infant School, and another 20 from Hepworth Lane.

Carol Evans, of Shillbank View, said: “They are all narrow roads that are not suitable. It’s absolutely ludicrous. Nobody in their right mind would propose houses like that where there isn’t proper access.” Her husband, the Rev Kenneth Evans, said: “They are proposing exit roads which weren’t any good originally and those roads are now busier than they were before.”

Reformed group Save Mirfield met at the Flying Shuttle pub after the consultation. Keith Andrews said he understood changes in national planning guidelines were the reason Bellway were back.

He told the meeting: “If we don’t win this fight it will be open season for developers in Mirfield.”

Bellway said feedback from the consultation would be helpful prior to the submission of their planning application to Kirklees Council.

Save Mirfield is holding a meeting at Mirfield Community Centre on Thursday at 7.30pm. Mr Andrews is encouraging people affected by the Kitson Hill development by Ben Bailey Homes and the Mirfield 25 development to come along. “If it doesn’t affect you now, there will be a developer waiting around the corner,” he added.