Protestors fear industrial park near Mirfield will be a ‘horror show’

Protesters against the Local Development Framework packed into All Saints Church, Roberttown, to plan their next course of action.

John Barraclough, from Keep Roberttown and Hartshead Rural, told the meeting: “Anyone who thinks it won’t be visible from the villages is very wrong.

“It will be like sitting in a large auditorium looking at a horrific performance on the stage below – complete with visual and noise pollution.”

He said while 42 hectares of the land behind the Three Nuns had been earmarked for the industrial development, in reality it would be much more, given the additional infrastructure needed.

“We have to stop the council from putting a huge industrial estate on our very own version of Bretton Park,” he said.

Fellow campaigner Max Rathmell said: “It will involve a massive roundabout in the field next to the Dumb Steeple, and a dual carriageway in the fields and woodlands of the Kirklees Estate. The Highways Agency is crossing its fingers that J25 of the M62 doesn’t seize up!”

Those opposed to the plans are urged to submit letters of objection before the November 2 deadline when it will go to independent planning inspector,