This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
UPDATE FROM WAAG 
With Secretary of State Robert Jenrick’s rejection of a call-in for planning application 17/08262, we must expect Leeds Council to issue the approval notice imminently, though with over a month having passed since that rejection one wonders why that hasn’t happened already. WAAG is of course furious that the community has been ignored. Rather than vent its wrath here, however, there are some positive things that can be done, even though they amount to damage limitation.
- City Plans Panel wanted our community to be given the chance to contribute to plan preparation. Developers will be starting to prepare their detailed proposals. We don’t know if there will be one planning application for “reserved matters” on all of the 17/08262 outline area or applications for each of the four land “parcels”. Almost everything on 17/08262 was illustrative and so not approved. There is a chance to influence designers. They won’t be obliged to take account of what the community wants but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. WAAG will ask to see any proposals put to the Council at pre-application stage and, despite awkward feelings, WAAG proposes to contact the developers and tell them what our community wants. How will we know this? WAAG can’t have public meetings these days but can collate positive suggestions on social media or sent to our email address:westardsleyactiongroup@gmail.com. Suggestions can’t expect to get the developable area reduced or change the access points (expect these to be already approved in 17/08262). We’re doing a brief focussing on Haigh Wood and green aspects of the development and will post this here in a day or two.
- There will be pages and pages of conditions, and the Section 106 agreement and the Community Infrastructure Levy, all of which will probably be the much the same as set out prior to the 21 May City Plans Panel meeting. There will be more on the reserved matters applications too. It’s LCC’s job to ensure these are complied with – though there won’t be much staff resources put into this unless discrepancies are brought to LCC’s attention by, for example, us.
- WAAG will ask the Council for copies of all the key documents and that all objectors to the outline plan be informed of every reserved matters application.
- WAAG has considered using judicial review to challenge the legality of the 21 May City Plans Panel at which objectors were excluded. It would be seriously expensive and even if we won it would only require that the decision be freshly taken. This would not in itself change the planning merits/issues, so we would expect City Plans Panel to vote for approval again.
- WAAG is keeping an eye on the very radical proposed government changes to the planning system. It’s very likely that these will much too late to affect the Haigh Wood proposals, though the theme at this initial stage seems to be to enable building to go ahead with fewer safeguards.
- It may be worth considering whether it would be good for West Ardsley to be included in the Morley Town Council area. Developers across Leeds currently have to pay the Community Infrastructure Levy on every house approved (though the government’s proposed planning changes could scrap this). 15% of the CIL can be earmarked for local parish or town council areas if they cover where new houses are approved. If not then all the CIL goes into a general Leeds wide pot and West Ardsley would probably see none of it.
Thank you for reading.
We have exciting news about the village Christmas Tree this year
The local Labour Councillors have secured some funding for our own Christmas tree which will be placed out side the Hilltop community centre, and will be followed later by a permanent live tree!
Thank you to the councillors
We have also been told the notice board should be in place by the end of the year.
Even though the Church might not be fully open yet their work still goes on.
On Saturday 10th October 2020, there will be a Harvest festival food drop off at West Ardsley Methodist Church, Haigh Moor Road.
All the food donations will be given to those who need it in our area.
So if you have a spare tin of something or an excess of packets please do bring it along before 12noon.
The food bank donation box is also outside of the Chapel and is checked daily
Thank you
20/9/2020
WAAG UPDATE ON HAIGH WOOD HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PLANS
The government White Paper is proposing major changes to the planning system and they are engaging in a public consultation process. WAAG intends to respond to their consultation however, this is asking a number of questions, which will require considerable effort and knowledge to respond effectively.
Not withstanding this, as feared, the governments build, build, build announcement, which we believe is the purpose of the new white paper, will have the Developers rubbing their hands.
The Labour run Leeds City Council, have always had the intention to have this site developed, regardless of all of the objections raised. As confirmed by their about turn at the last Plans Panel meeting.
We have written twice to the LCC Solicitor arguing that the last meeting was biased and unfair and pressing the case for a further, open, Plans Panel meeting; this has been refused. We have had it confirmed by the LCC Solicitor that they intend to issue an approval; they are only waiting for the Secretary of State to make a decision on the request for “call in”.
For now here’s where we think we stand in relation to the big planning application for 299 houses.
- It’s now over three months since our MP Andrea Jenkyns asked Secretary of State Robert Jenrick to call in the application and we’re still waiting for him to decide whether he will or not. If he does call it in, then there would be a public hearing with a fresh analysis about the merits or otherwise of the proposals. We would be up against both the developers and Leeds Council both of whom want approval. We would need to pay for expert help in preparing our case. WAAG did think it more likely that Jenrick would tell Leeds to go ahead and approve, but is now wondering what is delaying Jenrick’s decision.
- WAAG is challenging the minutes of the City Plans Panel so that there would have to be consultation with the community whilst more detailed plans are being drawn up. Otherwise we just have to await planning applications for “reserved matters” when full details will be submitted for approval. There could be one application or separate applications for the development parcels, though the Council would be looking to ensure that environmental promises already made would be adhered to.
- As for the planning system changes proposed, they are surely too late to influence the outcome for us. If anything, they could make the situation worse. Boris wants to “build, build build”. Politicians see the planning system as too slow and cumbersome and to blame for all that’s wrong. At least organisations like WAAG have been able to contribute to the SAP and City Plans Panel, even if ultimately ignored and then denied at the May CPP meeting (another story!). Enabling public contribution slows planning decisions and the new system threatens that. It feels like it is the WAAGs of this world that are the target that need to be by-passed to get building and the economy growing. WAAG tries to stay apolitical but feels squeezed between Conservatives on one hand at national level, as just described, and Labour at the local level who imposed a grossly inflated housing target a decade or so ago and are determined to approve 299 houses around Haigh Wood.
www.westardsley.co.uk email: westardsleyactiongroup@gmail.com
Tingley Athletic is one of our local football clubs and they are always looking out for new players- girls and boys!
The new season is almost upon us and they would like to have more boys signing up for the Under 7s squad in particular.
If you know of a young man who is in year 2 who would love to play with a friendly team why don’t you give the Stripy army a shout! Its more than just football!
Taken from the Chidswell action group – this will have an impact on West Ardsley on top of the building planned at Haighwood site
URGENT APPEAL FOR OBJECTIONS TO 2 PLANNING APPLICATIONS BY THE CHURCH COMMISSION TO BE HEARD BY KIRKLEES COUNCIL PLANNING COMMITTEE
As of today, Sunday 9th August the Chidswell Action Group has only 20 days to get as many objections to the two planning applications which will see 1500+ houses and a large industrial estate being built on land previously in the Green Belt.
We have the full support of Mark Eastwood, MP for Dewsbury who is prepared to make representations at the highest level in order to save the site from development, but we need thousands of objections from the public to help these efforts.
Reasons to object –
Health threats to children from pollution due to thousands of extra vehicles using the A653
The land acts as a zero carbon emission “green lung” separating Kirklees, Wakefield and Leeds – building on Chidswell will create massive urban sprawl with communities losing their identity.
Local schools are operating at capacity with no plans by Kirklees to build new schools.
Doctors’ surgeries and public amenities would be unable to cope with such a rise in population.
The development is contrary to the Government’s National Planning Policy Framework which supports health, social and cultural wellbeing.
There are 2 planning applications, the main site with 1300+ houses and the industrial estate, you can make your objections to Kirklees by clicking the link below
The second application is for 200+ houses to exit onto Heybeck Lane only, objections to this development can be made by clicking this link
Please help us by raising objections and sharing this post with family and friends.
Remember – Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever.
Thank you
Mark Lewis – Chairman
Twitter Updates
Always takes Leeds Council a little longer than the rest....
Leeds ensures children across the city don’t go hungry this half term https://gloo.to/6MAn @MarcusRashford #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY
The destruction begins 😢
3Our local councillor keen to promote building woodland. But unfortunately not in her own ward....
Collect tree seeds for Leeds! From acorns to beech nuts, and chestnuts to conkers, Leeds City Council's Woodland Creation initiative is something practical and fun you can do to help grow a Leeds woodland - and shrink the city's carbon footprint!
https://leedsclimate.org.uk/news/citizens-urged-collect-tree-seeds-leeds-woodland
Really? @BorisJohnson maybe you should have a word with @RobertJenrick and Leeds City Council planners who love your #buildbuildbuild plans for our greenfield site. Desperate to put our unsustainable site through ASAP despite 3000 local objections
Biodiversity loss is happening at a frightening rate, and we must act now to take care of our beautiful countryside and wildlife.
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-commits-to-protect-30-of-uk-land-in-boost-for-biodiversity