Thank you to everyone who came to the meeting today about the proposals in the Kirklees Local Plan that affect Hunsworth and Brookfields. I’m sorry it was standing room only. If anyone wants any further information or to discuss the proposals please let us know.

I’ve attached the list of ideas which you may wish to use in your objections. I hope you will be able to add in the details that only local residents will really know eg about the traffic congestion that already exists; the flooding; the lack of local facilities etc

I’ve also attached photos from the Kirklees Book that accompanies the maps to show how the sites are described.

For anyone who wants to let Kirklees know about the flooding on the field at Brookfields the address is floodingmanagement@kirklees.gov.uk

IDEAS FOR OBJECTIONS TO THE SITES IN THE LOCAL PLAN

• Loss of precious GREEN BELT. This is especially important to Hunsworth as there is very little Green Belt to separate the village from other built up areas. This is the purpose of Green Belt

• TRAFFIC CONGESTION – as residents you will know exactly how long you have to queue to get out onto the main roads eg A58 and A638 Bradford Road. You will also know how congested Chain Bar is and how long you have to wait especially at peak times

• LACK OF FACILITIES TO SERVE AN ADDITIONAL 300+ HOUSES eg local schools are already full (give examples if you know them); Doctors surgeries are full; NHS dentists are already turning patients away; Town Hall has been demoted by Kirklees but this is where people want to go to get information

• LOSS OF OPEN LAND AND WILDLIFE this is what makes the difference to living in a very urban area and we want to keep it that way

• AIR POLLUTION the latest assessment of air quality in and around Chain Bar shows that it is one of the worst for air quality in W Yorkshire. Additional houses and business will only make this worse

• IMPACT OF ALL THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT IN THE AREA There are large housing sites proposed near the Birkenshaw roundabout on the A58 which will add to traffic congestion and have a significant impact on Hunsworth.

• FAIR SHARES: The Cleckheaton area – especially in the vicinity of Chain Bar has 3 large sites proposed in the plan: Hunsworth / Brookfields; Oakenshaw former sewage works site for business; A58 towards Scholes a very large business site. All these will make traffic congestion a huge problem and air quality will deteriorate further to the detriment of residents’ health.

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