Anger at venue for Bingley planning decision (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, planning decision venue sparks outrage
9:30am Friday 24th June 2011 in Crossflatts
By Marc Meneaud, Aire Valley Chief Reporter
Campaigners Mick Meares and Caroline Illingworth outside the Bingley venue which they want to use
Campaigners are angry that a major decision on a 400-home development on green fields near Bingley will be made in Bradford rather than the Aire Valley.
Councillors on the Shipley Planning Panel will decide whether Redrow and Bellway will be given permission to build a housing estate in Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, next to the Leeds- Liverpool Canal.
Greenhill Action Group (GAG), which is fighting the proposals, said there had been assurances from the Council that the “hugely important” decision would be made at Bingley Arts Centre.
But in an unusual move, Bradford Council has decided to hold the meeting at City Hall, Bradford, on Tuesday, July 5.
Mick Meares, GAG vice chairman, said: “I think they are making it as awkward as possible for people from Bingley to come to the meeting to prevent them from having their say.”
Bradford Council’s planning department initially told GAG the arts centre had been ruled out as a venue because of “cost implications”, said Mr Meares.
He wrote to the planning department, offering to pay for the hire of the centre in Main Street, but was told that would be “unlawful”, he said.
However, GAG’s lawyers have said there would be no legal barrier to the group paying for the hire of the Bingley venue and it has now been booked as a “contingency”.
Mr Meares has now written to Bradford Council’s chief executive, Tony Reeves, and Councillor Shabir Hussain, chairman of the Shipley Panning Panel, asking for an explanation.
He said: “We were told the arts centre was booked but we made our own enquiries only to find out that it is fully available on July 5."
Councillor Hussain (Lab, Manningham) said: “As far as we are concerned, we have done the best that we can.
“It is not our purpose to upset people and the members of the planning panel will take everything into consideration when making their decision.”
No-one from Bradford Council was available to comment on the claims
- Read the full story Friday’s T&A
Comments(10)
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
12:38pm Fri 24 Jun 11
Mik_e wrote:£££££££££'s
The whole situation appears that the Planning dept at Bradford Council, is working in a underhand way and favouring the developers. The meeting is to be held during working hours, when many objectors will not be able to attend owing to being at work. I wonder what it could be that is influencing this ???
Yorkshire Lass
says...
1:43pm Fri 24 Jun 11
They appear to do what they like and completely ignore the citizens' views. Lets have a bit less of these underhanded deals after all, you work for the public, paid for by the public. We deserve better.
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
2:29pm Fri 24 Jun 11
.
No doubt the decision will be granting permission to build these houses even though the infrastruction of the area can't support it.
Idler60
says...
3:12pm Fri 24 Jun 11
There is no democracy in Bradford
Clowny
says...
5:22pm Fri 24 Jun 11
Mik_e wrote:All councils decisions where members of the public might have a stake be it planning or licensing etc, are held in office hours which means it is difficult for objectors to have a say on any such decisions. Written objections aren't really given the credence they deserve either, it's the nature of councils unfortunately.
The whole situation appears that the Planning dept at Bradford Council, is working in a underhand way and favouring the developers. The meeting is to be held during working hours, when many objectors will not be able to attend owing to being at work.
I wonder what it could be that is influencing this ???
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:38am Sat 25 Jun 11
.
Or will the money just go to the black hole of the city center and people of that area will just have to struggle finding health centers, dentists, schools, etc.
ministry_of_justice
says...
11:23am Sat 25 Jun 11
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:I think a percentage of the money is already in the councillors back pocket.I recently made phone enquiries about a council lease up for tender....never got a reply...the lease already assigned no doubt!....At least the Micklethwaite decision will put this corrupt council under the spotlight.
When this is granted (not if) will the money recieved from developers go back into this area to improve the infrastructure of this area, seeing as though 400 houses and families are being forced upon them.
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Or will the money just go to the black hole of the city center and people of that area will just have to struggle finding health centers, dentists, schools, etc.
Clowny
says...
12:51pm Sat 25 Jun 11
Thee Voice of Reason wrote:TBH, not that much money makes it into the city centre either, it just vanishes to consultants, architects and developers despite the fact all we have to show for a decade of money vanishing will be a half finished public realm development with a mirror pool that no one wanted and wasn't really needed.
When this is granted (not if) will the money recieved from developers go back into this area to improve the infrastructure of this area, seeing as though 400 houses and families are being forced upon them.
.
Or will the money just go to the black hole of the city center and people of that area will just have to struggle finding health centers, dentists, schools, etc.
BCFC86
says...
4:19pm Sat 25 Jun 11
Councillor Greenwood - please make someone available, you are here to serve!
Mik_e says...
10:09am Fri 24 Jun 11
I wonder what it could be that is influencing this ???