A CONTROVERSIAL care home plan that was due to be decided by councillors at this week was withdrawn at the eleventh hour.

Calderdale Council’s Planning Committee heard the plans to demolish a school building to allow a new 66-bed residential care home at Hipperholme Grammar Junior School, Wakefield Road, Lightcliffe, had been withdrawn by applicant Torsion Care and would not come before councillors, at least not yet.

The proposals for the former Hipperholme Grammar Junior School building would bring more care places to Calderdale, but residents’ concerns have seen 134 letters of objection sent in to the council, as opposed to just one of support.

Residents oppose ‘skyscraper’ care home plan

Critics of the plan include some ward councillors and Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker, who has written to the council.

In particular, concerns about vehicle movements potentially at any hour of the day increasing congestion and air quality problems in an area already subject to both – the site is only 200 yards or so from Hipperholme crossroads – are highlighted by them.

The company had said the three storey home would “cater for elderly self-sufficient people.”