Residents calling for extra road as plans for 149 homes are submitted

Residents have hit out at plans to build almost 150 new homes in Castleford which will see their street used as the only entrance onto the site.

The homes have been earmarked for the old Castleford, Normanton and District Hospital off Lumley Street, with two applications submitted in recent weeks.

But since the plans were first mooted two years ago, those living on Lumley Street have argued that the only proposed entrance for the new housing site onto the road will only create traffic chaos.

They are now calling for some of the proposed land to be used to create a road behind the existing Lumley Street houses that back onto the site.

Resident Joanna Williams, who first raised concerns in 2015 when an initial set of plans for 100 houses were submitted, said: “Parking is a nightmare anyway, so if they moved the houses and put an extra road in, it would make sense.

“They estimate there will be less traffic with nearly 150 homes but we can’t believe that - in this day and age there will be a car for house at least, and there will be only one way in.

“In reality, we know it will be housing development, but we need support to get this road at the back.”

The hospital site, which only closed a few weeks back has been used for offices in recent years and Persimmon Homes are proposing to build 149 two-to-four-bedroom homes.

People are being urged to have their say on the plans and should log onto www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/planning and search for the applications 17/01065 and 17/01066.

Meanwhile, a meeting will be held at the Black Bull pub on Tuesday, May 30, at the Black Bull pub on Lumley Street, at 7pm, for anyone wanting to add their support.

There will also be a petition to sign on the night.