Have your say overconservationshake-up

Residents in two West Yorkshire conservation areas are being asked their views as part of a boundaries review.

The village of Bramham was designated a conservation area in 1975 and the hamlet of Woodhall Hills received the same status in 1984.

Conservation area status helps to safeguard their special architectural and historic characters, and protect important buildings from demolition.

Public meetings have been arranged as part of the consultation where residents can meet the local community conservation officer and discuss what makes the villages special, which buildings and spaces they value the most and how they could be enhanced.

A meeting for people who live in Woodhall Hills will be held on February 6 from 10am at The Barn, next to Calverley Church.

Residents of Bramham can air their views on February 20 from 10am at Bramham Village Hall.

Coun Andrew Carter, Leeds Council joint leader and executive board member responsible for development, said: “It is important that we safeguard the special architectural nature and historic character of these villages and protect important buildings from demolition.

“The opinions of local people are an integral part of the process and these two public meetings are an opportunity for people to speak to conservation officers and make their views known to the council.

“I strongly urge residents in Bramham and Woodhall Hillls to take part in the consultations to help us protect their local environment.”

The Bramham review will run for six weeks until February 26 and the Woodhall Hills review will last for four weeks until February 12.

Buildings within a conservation area are protected from unauthorised demolition, and new developments have to meet higher standards of design than elsewhere.

Other planning rules are slightly different and permission from the council is needed for certain activities such as tree felling.