Police called as diggers move in

Jan 29 2008 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Police called as diggers move in

POLICE were called after diggers moved on to a controversial development site.

Heavy machinery began digging holes off Leeds Road in Mirfield yesterday.

Developers Urban Evolution have discussed plans for a controversial Mirfield 25 development, which would include offices, manufacturing units and retirement housing.

But a spokesman for the company insisted that the digging was not preparation for building work.

Residents have campaigned against the proposed development on the 30-acre site at Slipper Lane, pointing to the loss of green space and increased traffic.

Stuart Silverwood lives in the middle of the proposed development.

He said: “On Thursday and Friday evening I saw two or three people in the fields putting pegs in.”

At 7.30am yesterday Mr Silverwood noticed machinery moving in about 200 yards from his home.

He said: “There was a great big digger and two or three Transit vans. They were digging holes all over.”

Mr Silverwood, who runs a fencing business from his Leeds Road home, is angry he’s been kept in the dark.

He said: “No-one comes to see me, either from the developers or the council. No-one says a word. I’m 63, I’ve got to decide what I’m going to do.”

Clr Martyn Bolt, who represents Mirfield on Kirklees Council, visited the site yesterday morning. He said two cars and a pick-up truck belonging to the contractors had been parked on the pavement at Leeds Road.

Clr Bolt said: “They were blocking the footpath which is used by children going to Mirfield Free Grammar School. I’ve called Kirklees highways and asked them to liaise with the police on this because it’s a clear obstruction.

“We need to set ground rules.”

Clr Bolt added: “It would be reasonable for the developers to inform residents what’s going on. It will destroy the image that the developers have tried to build with residents.”

Urban Evolution spokesman Stefan Turnbull said that building work was not underway.

He said: “The only thing we’re doing is checking levels and digging some pits to check soil conditions – it’s not the development getting under way at all.”

Mr Turnbull explained that Kirklees Council had asked the company to check if the site’s topsoil could be used to cap a nearby landfill site which is to be turned into a park.

Action Group Mirfield 25 have led a two-year campaign against the development.

Last year Urban Evolution agreed to make a retirement community part of the proposal. Plans for a hotel and car showroom were dropped.