Fly-tipping at former Holme Wood club site 'appalling'

One local councillor who has been calling for the site to be cleaned up for months has said the mess is an “insult” to the people of Holme Wood.

A planning application to demolish Holme Wood Social Club and build a Heron Foods store in its place was approved by Bradford Council late last year.

The social club has been shut, but months later the development has yet to start, and when the Telegraph & Argus visited the site this week there were large piles of fly tipping and rubbish on the site – including a door, carpets and a kitchen sink.

Fly tipping at the former Holme Wood Social Club (Image: newsquest)

Last month when asked about the site, a Council spokesperson said: “The owner has been made aware of the fly-tipped waste and is working with our Environmental Enforcement Team to get it removed as soon as possible.”

After it was clear waste was still on the site this week, the T&A asked for a follow up comment from the Council.

The spokesperson said: “We have not heard anything further from the owner of the site and we know waste is still on site. We will therefore proceed with further action in line with our enforcement policy.”

The planning application for the demolition and construction of the Heron was submitted by J Cordingley of Crag Developments.

Holme Wood Social Club (Image: newsquest)

At the planning meeting at which the store was approved, Mr Cordingley told Councillors the plans to open a new build store on this site had “all the ingredients of a success".

In 2018 the same company had been granted planning permission to build housing on the site of the former Tempest pub in Holme Wood. That development has also yet to start.

The Telegraph & Argus has been unable to contact Crag Developments.

Heron Foods was contacted for a comment, but has yet to respond.

Councillor Matt Edwards (Green) represents Tong on Bradford Council, and has been calling for the Social Club site to be cleaned up for months.

He said: “The appalling fly-tipping here is exactly what I warned about back in December when the Council gave planning permission.

Fly tipping at the former Holme Wood Social Club (Image: Green Party)

“The Holme Wood Club was built originally for the people of the estate and the community fought to save this building. The way he has left this building to rot is an insult to them.

“Bradford Council really need to crack on and use their enforcement powers to deal with the landowner and make sure he keeps the site clear whilst he decides what he is doing with it.”