Dewsbury MP Mark Eastwood demands rethink over Kirklees Council planning policy

And in the aftermath of Storm Ciara planners who voted to build a housing estate in a notorious flood zone have been invited to see the area for themselves.

Kirklees Council has said it would be “more than happy” to accept an invitation to visit the area, adding, “We always want to work with residents as closely as possible.”

The council has come under fire for its policies in recent months and has been sharply criticised by residents for brushing off fears over flooding.

One member, Councillor Carole Pattison, said building houses on an ancient floodplain at Granny Lane in Mirfield was “worth the risk”.

Among those who witnessed the “horrific” flooding in Mirfield at first-hand was Dewsbury MP Mark Eastwood, who was elected in December.

He has called for “a complete re-think” by the council on its planning policy.

The council said a technical appraisal of the land had confirmed it to be “an appropriate site” for residential development.

Veronica Maher, whose home is in the danger area of Granny Lane, said an elderly neighbour “was so traumatised” by the speed of flooding that she had to be evacuated from her house.

And she herself had to abandon a family gathering for her 90-year-old mother because all roads to her property from Mirfield were closed.

Mrs Maher, who campaigned against development at Granny Lane, commented: “The human consequences are often forgotten in the bigger scheme of things, a point we tried to make at the [planning] sub-committee meeting, and which now I have experienced.”

Ward ouncillor Martyn Bolt (Con, Mirfield) urged the council and the Environment Agency “to take notice of what has happened and the potential for what could happen in the future.”

He said Mirfield’s unique position as a meeting point for three rivers – the Holme, the Colne and the Calder – meant the surrounding area was historically prone to flooding but that concerns had not been heeded.

He said flood levels had officially exceeded a previous record set in 2015 but that the problem could have been reduced had flood mitigation measures been put in place.

However he said calls for dredging had been rejected by both the Environment Agency and the Canal & River Trust.

“In 2015 local businesses were telling us that the effect on them was into tens of millions of pounds.

“If they get hit again by floods they may leave the area.

“I fully support residents and my colleague Coun Vivien Lees-Hamilton for Coun Pattison and the planning committee to come and meet residents and see the devastation that flooding is causing.

“It’s not an exaggeration to say that lives are at risk from these decisions.”

Mr Eastwood thanked rescue volunteers who used a 4×4 to get him to Granny Lane.

He described it as “completely flooded” with most of the area “cut off from the rest of Mirfield”.

He added: “Clearly, after yesterday’s horrific flooding, proceeding with this site is not ‘worth the risk’.

“I have sent an urgent email to the chief executive of Kirklees Council, Jacqui Gedman, requesting that the council reconsider their decision to allow any development at Granny Lane.

“I await her response with interest.

“With other proposed development sites, like Cumberworth Road in Skelmanthorpe, also experiencing flooding yesterday, I would ask that Kirklees Council stop ignoring local people, community groups and planning experts in a rush to push through inappropriate developments and has a complete re-think on its planning policy.”

Karl Battersby, the council’s Strategic Director for Economy and Infrastructure, said of the Granny Lane site: “The Lead Local Flood Authority (LLFA), Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency were all consulted as part of [a technical appraisal] and together made changes to the proposed surface water drainage system and then confirmed the site to be satisfactory.”

The Lead Local Flood Authority is Kirklees Council.

Mr Battersby added: “Before any work can begin on site, the developer must present details of their plans to deal with surface water drainage – this is a condition of the planning permission.

“The LLFA and Yorkshire Water will again be consulted prior to any decision being made on these technical details.”