Deadline for comments: 29 July
Greens from across district lines have called for a rethink of plans for a new warehouse near Oakenshaw which would see the main road access near Woodlands Primary School.
Earlier this month, Tungsten Properties submitted the first detailed application for the one of the warehouses planned North Bierley Waste Water Treatment Works.
Councillor Andrew Cooper from Kirklees District Council (Newsome Ward) and Matt Edwards from Bradford District Green Party have both visited the site to discuss serious concerns about the new plans primarily relating to access to the site.
Outline planning permission for the whole development was approved in 2018 by Kirklees Council, and Bradford Council approved planning permission for a new car park for Woodlands School as part of the scheme.
Matt Edwards has said “when this whole scheme is finished, it will be a large complex of warehouses, and this warehouse alone is going to have capacity to park 191 cars. There will be a significant increase in vehicle movements and that doesn’t even include the HGVs that will use the site.
“What is really worrying is that the only access to this site from the M606 will be a mini roundabout right next to a primary school. As a result this will significantly increase the air pollution in the area.
“We have an air pollution crisis across Bradford. Children are amongst the most vulnerable to air pollution and HGVs are amongst the worst polluters on our roads. This all just does not add up.”
“If the developer is wanting this scheme to go ahead, they need to come up with a way of reducing the impact of air pollution for pupils and local residents.
Councillor Andrew Cooper has hit out at fundamental problems in the planning system saying “this major development is right on the boundary of two council areas meaning Kirklees is responsible for deciding on the warehouses and Bradford for the road and the car park.
“This means that the full consequences this massive scheme will have on people living in Woodlands, and parents and children at Woodlands School have not been taken into account.
“We need to explore other access to the site that does not come via Woodlands village.”
How to object:
If you wish to make comments on a planning application, Kirklees Council strongly encourage that these are made online because their office is infrequently staffed and postal services are currently disrupted due to Coronavirus.
The easiest way is online on the Kirklees Planning Portal. Here you will be able to view all of the details of the application and make your comment. The end date for consultation is 29 July.
Example Objection:
It is best if you can put the objection into your own words but if you need help or ideas, here is an example objection:
“This is only part of what will be a large complex of warehouses. The application for this warehouse alone is going to have capacity to park 191 cars. In addition there will be a significant number of HGVs that will use the site, which are heavy emitters of air pollution and for future decades will be diesel powered. Over time there will be a noticeable increase in vehicle movements.
This development will exacerbate the air pollution crisis and the objectives of the West Yorkshire Low Emission Strategy. Children are amongst the most vulnerable to air pollution and this development and the site’s principle entrance/exit is opposite Woodlands Primary School.
The only access to this site from the M606 will be a mini roundabout right next to a primary school. As a result this will significantly increase the air pollution in the local area – which also includes residential property.
The developer’s travel plan, the council’s transport assessment and the environmental report needs to recommend ways in which the applicant reduces the impact of air pollution for pupils and local residents or it should be refused.”