Frustration at Micklethwaite planning delays (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Frustration at Micklethwaite planning delays

6:10am Friday 19th March 2010 in

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Campaigners fighting a massive housing development which will swallow up huge swathes of countryside claim they are being hamstrung by delays in the planning process.

Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which is fighting proposals for 475 homes off Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, Bingley, argues that delays in information being made available to the public are stifling debate.

They say there have been difficulties in residents accessing 1,600 pages of proposals put forward by developers Bellway and Redrow on the Council’s planning website.

There has also been another hold-up while the Council decided whether it would be legal for the group to create an online petition.

Councillor-run public meetings will also be postponed ahead of the local authority elections on Thursday, May 6, meaning there will no opportunities for public consultation until that date, the group claims.

The group is now calling for Bradford Council and the developers to allow more time for a “full and meaningful” consultation for those who will be affected.

GAG chairman Terry Brown said: “I think the Council should let the local elections go by and put the whole thing on hold.

“We can then start the planning process again after the election and give local people their say.”

The application was submitted on March 3 and the deadline for people neighbouring the site to object is Tuesday, April 6.

The online petition was posted on the GAG website on Wednesday following a three-week wrangle with the Council.

It had already attracted more than 60 signatures by yesterday morning.

“The fact that so many have already signed it shows there is huge interest in this application,” said Mr Brown. “It looks like GAG is going to have to hire a hall to hold our own public meeting to let the public know what is going on.

“If Bellway and Redrow were responsible, they would put off the application until there had been time for a full and meaningful consultation.

“But every time we have spoken to them, all they have said is that they are not legally required to.”

Neither Walker Morris, which is acting as agents for Bellway and Redrow, nor Bradford Council were available for comment last night.