Councillors reject Lindley Moor data campus plan

Jun 15 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Councillors reject Lindley Moor data campus plan

“I think the data campus would need a workforce in the region of 50 to 75 at any one time.”

Lindley Lib Dem Clr Christine Stanfield said that – even if 150 jobs were created at the site – it would come at too high a price.

She said: “I would be greatly saddened to lose all those acres of green grazing land for a paltry 150 jobs. I think that’s a very poor exchange.”

Clr Stanfield added that residents were opposed to the plan. She said: “We all know that no-one in Lindley wants this.”

Fellow Lindley Lib Dem Clr Cahal Burke agreed. “The overwhelming response to this proposal is negative. We’ve got to look at the disastrous environmental impact it would have.”

Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney called on the committee to delay its decision.

The Conservative said: “I’m concerned that there are councillors who haven’t had the opportunity to visit the site. Surely it’s important to make the right decision rather than an ill-judged and hasty one.”

Committee member Clr Andrew Pinnock called for the plan to be refused because it was at odds with the Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

The Kirklees blueprint allocates 31 acres of Lindley Moor on either side of Crosland Road for industrial development. But the Stirling Scotfield plan only covered 18 acres on the western side of the road.

Cleckheaton Lib Dem Clr Pinnock said: “The UDP says the site must be comprehensively developed.”

The data campus plan was rejected by six votes to four.

Clr Pinnock voted to refuse the plan, along with fellow Lib Dems Clr Roger Battye of Dalton and Clr David Woodhead of Holme Valley North. Conservatives Clr Martyn Bolt of Mirfield, Kirkburton’s Clr Adrian Murphy and Clr David Hall of Liversedge and Gomersal also voted to reject the proposal.

Kirkburton Conservative Clr Christine Smith voted against the proposal to reject the plan, as did Labour’s Clr Mahmood Akhtar of Batley East and Clr Barbara Jones and Clr Mohan Sokhal of Greenhead.

Holme Valley South Conservative Clr Ken Sims and Labour’s Clr Steve Hall from Heckmondwike abstained.