Battle is on to save Silsden playing field from housing

Silsden Town Council is challenging a decision by the local authority to sell off part of the Elliott Street site for homes.

Town councillors say the move "directly conflicts" with Silsden's neighbourhood development plan.

Bradford Council's executive agreed last month that a section of the land, behind The Hive, should be sold to build up to half a dozen properties. Originally the council intended to sell the whole site to help fund the new Silsden Primary School, but after being swamped with objections had a change of heart.

However, Silsden Town Council says the whole playing field must be retained and that it is seeking legal opinion to challenge the executive's ruling.

"The site is named quite clearly within the town's neighbourhood development plan which states that it is 'to be retained to protect and enhance sport and recreation'," says Silsden deputy mayor, Councillor Rebecca Whitaker.

"The plan is a statutory legal document adopted last year following a referendum. Silsden Town Council spent a lot of time putting this joint plan together with Steeton Parish Council, using powers under the Localism Act. It was democratically voted on and received overwhelming support from the majority of voters. It is not for Bradford Council to undermine the wishes of our residents, who did not vote for any compromise and didn't vote for housing to be built on this site.

"Bradford Council's own open space audit report identifies that there is a deficiency of outdoor sports space within Silsden."

Silsden's town mayor, Councillor Mags Croft, says the playing field has become increasingly important to the community due to the amount of new housing built locally.

She added: "Residents living on the east side of Silsden can enjoy the town's park, but there is nothing at all for those on the western side. The playing field site is now even more important given the huge amount of additional housing built in Silsden over the past few years. Children need to have safe space to play in and this site is the only retained space left to facilitate it. The adopted neighbourhood development plan states nothing about any compromise."

And Councillor Michael O'Dwyer, a former town mayor of Silsden, says: "This site is a fantastic green space which has been enjoyed by residents for decades. The town council is determined to keep it like that and does not agree with any housing being built on it which will spoil this treasured open area."

A Bradford Council spokesperson told us: "The council understands and supports the importance of green spaces in our communities and has already recognised the need for open space in the centre of Silsden.

"As with many things, we have to balance competing needs, in this case with the funding requirement that delivered the new school and wider housing demand in the area.

"The proposed development only includes a small proportion of the site, leaving the vast majority of it to be transferred to the Hive for free to help them fulfil their aspirations for the site and the community.

"Silsden’s neighbourhood plan will be taken into consideration in any local planning decisions, along with other relevant planning considerations."