Villagers urged to fight homes bid

Leeds Council planners have recently turned down two separate planning applications for a mixture of homes on land at Church Fields, an area of agricultural land in the centre of the West Yorkshire village.

Developer Taylor Wimpey first applied to build 170 homes and, following its rejection, applied to build 153 homes, which again was turned down.

The developer appealed against both decisions and today a Government planning inspector will open an eight-day public hearing into both refusals.

Close to 1,000 people and organisations, including the parish council, objected to each of the previous plans and a large public turnout is expected at the planning inquiry, which is taking place in the Village Hall, Boston Spa, at the request of local councillors John Procter, Alan Lamb and Gerard Wilkinson.

The public hearing is taking place today, tomorrow, March 23, 24, 25, 26 and 31, with the final day on April 1.

Those who attend the hearing will have the opportunity of hearing the arguments around the proposed development with local councillors, councils officers and representatives of Taylor Wimpey in attendance.

Opponents of the housing plans see the plans as a threat to the village's remaining green space.

The land was allocated about 15 years ago as potential land for future housing development but councillors and others say that the land should be "de-listed" and removed from the register of suitable housing land in favour of urban areas in need of regeneration.

Councillor Procter (Conservative, Wetherby) said: "This inquiry is the perfect opportunity for Boston Spa residents to show the depth of feeling there is amongst the local community about plans to build on Church Fields.

"Anyone can attend the inquiry, and to assist with arrangements it would be of great help if residents could register their availability with the Parish Council.

"As people are aware the Village Hall has a limited capacity and we are keen that every resident who wishes to see the proceedings has the opportunity to do so.

"The Parish Council is also coordinating those from the local community who have specialist knowledge and may wish to contribute to the proceedings."

Coun Procter described the plans as "not at all sympathetic" to Boston Spa's conservation area.

He expects up to 500 residents to attend at least a day of the inquiry.

He told the Yorkshire Post: "There are bizarre elements of this housing scheme. The are large blocks of houses which resemble barracks.

"It is not an imaginative scheme."

He said that he and the parish council had supported other housing schemes in the village and it was not a case of opposing all housing schemes.

"Just under 1,000 objections were made against these plans, just about every single household in a village of 1,100 houses. There has been fantastic community spirit."

Leeds Council planners rejected the housing plans for Church Fields on a number of grounds, including issues relating to the design and layout. They also raised objections which centred on the council's strategy of allocating housing to 'brownfield' sites ahead of other, more sensitive sites.

n Residents can contact the parish council by email on [email protected], or bay calling 01937 835736.

The inquiry is sitting from 10am to 5pm except on Friday when it closes at 4pm.