Outrage as council backs homes plan
IN 1983 the council's head of planning said that no more than 20 houses should be built next to this Outwood cul-de-sac because of poor traffic access.
But 27 years later, the architects firm he set up has secured planning permission to build 91 homes there – to the outrage of residents who fear traffic chaos.
Spawforths secured permission last Friday for building firm Taylor Wimpey to build the houses at the site next to busy Leeds road.
Now Victoria Way residents face three years of disruption on their quiet cul-de-sac as the development is built.
Simon Truran, chairman of Victoria Way Residents Association, said: "It is a narrow road and near a dangerous bend. We are very disappointed.
"Local residents have been strongly against this."
During the meeting, committee members highlighted the 1983 report, in which Peter D Spawforth said: "Access to the site has shown to be a real constraint with the county council's highway department advising that a maximum of only 20 dwellings should be served off Victoria Way."
Resident Bryan Taylor, 68, said: "Another 91 people living here and there's going to be longer queues of traffic trying to get on to Leeds Road."
Sylvia Hibbert, 65, said: "Do we live in a democracy when there were hundreds of letters of objection? Big wagons already struggle to get round Victoria Way."
The planning application was granted on condition that the scheme is built over three years. Taylor Wimpey has agreed to improve the junction of Victoria Approach and Leeds Road to increase visibility.
Legal agreements contain more than 300,000 of contributions from the developers towards traffic improvements, a new footpath and extra school places.
Adrian Spawforth, managing director of Spawforths, said the 1983 report reflected the view of West Yorkshire Highways Authority, now abolished.
Mr Spawforth said: "Over the last 27 years, national highway policy has fundamentally changed in approach and philosophy."
In the 1970s and 1980s, new houses were encouraged on the edge of towns and cities because it was assumed the occupants would travel by car.
But the emphasis was had changed to urban locations close to bus routes and train stations and within walking distance form local amenities, Mr Spawforth said.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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