CONTROVERSIAL plans to fill in a quarry site and build 75 homes in Brighouse are being recommended for approval.

The scheme at the disused Pond Quarry at Lightcliffe Road has seen around 250 objections being lodged with Calderdale Council.

Many are concerned about the engineering works to level the site, which are expected to last up to three and a half years, and the disruption to local residents that would bring.

Other concerns are around traffic issues and wildlife such as badgers and bats losing their habitat.

The application, by landowner Hard York Ltd, is a hybrid one - a full scheme to fill in the quarry and outline plans for the housing development.

Local Councillor Scott Benton has also voiced his concerns over the plans after having being contacted by dozens of local people.

He states: "The 'adverse impacts' in relation the application significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits in terms of the delivering of new housing. Filling in the quarry will cause significant disruption and inconvenience for the surrounding properties which are located very close to the proposed site.

"For example, the residents on all four sides of the quarry suffered the noise, vibration and disturbance from 8am to 4pm for 3 weeks in November 2017 when operations in the area were carried out. This was purely a period where contractors were clearing the site in

anticipation of the sale of the land."

He added that this work "gave an indication of the disruption which will be created if this application is approved and which will no doubt last for several years".

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In a report to the Council's planning committee, planners state: "Many objectors referred to the traffic impacts of the proposed development both during the infilling operations and operational phase.

"The quarry is not operational so the proposal would involve a significant increase in HGV traffic on the local road network."

However it goes on to say that the assistant director for strategic infrastructure (highways) has been consulted, adding: "The approach roads are all residential in nature with few large vehicles and several schools nearby. Therefore, there will be a significant impact on road users, in particular more vulnerable groups such as pedestrians and cyclists. Drivers will also be affected by large, slow moving vehicles.

"Twenty vehicles in six hours is one vehicle every 20 minutes over the proposed six-hour period. This is not insignificant on a residential road. However, it would not be sufficient to object to the application given the temporary nature of the movements. This should be controlled by condition."

If approved a legal agreement would be drawn up to include £50,000 towards traffic measures on surrounding roads.

The site itself is 1.83 hectares and is bounded by Lightcliffe Road to the east and Granny Hall Lane to the south. It is allocated for housing in the unitary development plan and is also a proposed housing site in the draft Local Plan.

It has not been used as a quarry for around 50 years, according to the application and around 100,000 cubic metres of material would need to be delivered to the site in order to level it out ready for development.

The meeting is on December 1.