Petition over 777 homes plan on Leeds greenbelt

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CAMPAIGNERS in a Leeds suburb objecting to a large tract of greenbelt land being designated as a site for 777 new homes have delivered a 330 signature petition to Leeds City Council chiefs.

They say the Strawberry Fields site – south of the A65 between Horsforth and Rawdon Crematorium – should be taken out of the council’s site allocation plan.

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Joel Kaufman, who runs the saveleedsgreenbelt.com website, presented a 330 signature petition to Leeds City Council chiefs this week.

Mr Kaufman claims the council has not taken note of almost 2,000 people who objected to the Strawberry Fields proposals during a public consultation last November and have instead increased the amount of land on the site allocation plan.

Mr Kaufman said: “This land separates Horsforth and Rawdon. They are just filling in all the gaps between the suburbs and getting rid of all the greenbelt. It would be such a tragedy to lose it especially when there’s so much brownfield land that needs developing first.”

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Coun Chris Townsley (Lib Dem/Horsforth), said: “To ignore the anger of local people and actually increase the size of the site is a slap in the face to residents. The council now needs to recognise residents’ feelings, rethink its stance and withdraw this site from its plans.”

Coun Richard Lewis, Leeds City Council’s executive member for regeneration, transport and planning, said: “As with all the potential areas of development in the site allocations proposals, these sites have been subject to public consultation and that process will continue before the plans are presented to the government for inspection. While being mindful of local concerns, we also need to balance that with the needs of the city as a whole and the importance of having a framework in place to guide all development in Leeds up to 2028.”