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ONE PAPER ... ALL THE NEWS from Dewsbury, Batley, Ossett, Mirfield, Liversedge, Birstall, Heckmondwike, Cleckheaton & Spen Valley
Friday January 30, 2015
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DEVELOPERS EYE UP MORE SITES Fresh housing bids are unveiled in Cleckheaton By David Miller News Reporter davidmiller@thepressnews.co.uk
IMPROVEMENTS to local infrastructure would be needed to cope with scores of new homes in Cleckheaton, a top councillor has warned. Coun Andrew Pinnock (Lib Dem, pictured right) said he will be pushing for developers to contribute towards new facilities and extra school places after it emerged that up to 44 new homes could be built on the site of the Francis Birkett engineering works on Hightown Road. Another 20 are planned for the former Whitcliffe Hotel, while 23 homes may go in at Cleckheaton Bowling Club on Park View. Coun Pinnock sits on Kirklees Council’s strategic planning committee, which may have to decide the fate of the schemes. As in Mirfield, infrastructure
such as extra bus routes, roads and school places would be needed. In particular he believes the Chain Bar junction needs improving, as do bus services to Bradford and Huddersfield. Coun Pinnock added: “Cleckheaton is an attractive place to live and the same arguments can
be made as in Mirfield. “I don’t think we have a shortage of school places at the moment, but as you build more homes that can become an issue in future years.” Coun Pinnock detailed what he would be looking for at planning meetings from developers. He said: “In deciding any planning application you’ve got to look at the details. “If development takes place you need to make sure other issues that need to be looked at are addressed. “It’s about getting (Section 106) agreements in place and if you can’t do that you might have to look at refusal. “That applies to any planning application, not just housing schemes in Cleckheaton.” Those three developments are classed as brownfield sites, though the potential loss of the Whitcliffe Hotel could be controversial. The building was once a trade
Cleckheaton Bowling Club
The Whitcliffe Hotel
FW Birkett engineering works
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