Protest as land is offered up to house builders

Placard-bearing members of the Save Lupset Greenfields group held their demonstration at land off Milton Road which could become a new housing estate.

People living nearby claim they were not properly consulted about the 20-acre site being put in Wakefield Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF), a blueprint for future housing in the district.

They are also concerned about increased traffic on busy roads including Broadway, which cuts through the Lupset estate to connect Horbury Road and Dewsbury Road.

Save Lupset Greenfields said a petition against the development had been signed by 200 people before Tuesday’s protest.

Spokesman Martin Snowden said: “Snapethorpe Primary is already bursting at the seams and children will be forced to go to school in Ossett or Horbury.

“The GP surgery is already at capacity with residents already being turned away.

“Wakefield Council does not seem to care about any of these issues.

“They seem more interested in making money and getting rid of the remaining green area on this side of Wakefield, taking away an important local amenity.

“We agree there is a need for housing however there are other more accessible, safer sites in Wakefield.”

The action group said the original LDF plan was extended to include parts of the Milton Road site without some people realisling.

But Wakefield Council said people’s views were considered by an independent planning inspector who decided the site was suitable for housing.

The site is up for sale and people will be able to object when the purchaser draws up an application to build on it, the council said.

Save Lupset Greenfields claims the majority of people living near Milton Road are opposed to new homes.

Mr Snowden said: “Such a development will have a significant impact on residents in the area, particularly given that there are already other housing developments on Dewsbury Road and the old Redcats site on Horbury Road.”

The group has launched a website www.savelupsetgreenfields.org to set out its case against the sale of the land for homes.