West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust wins planning permission for children’s hospice at Brackenhall – again

Nov 5 2010 by Barry Gibson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“GET it done this time.”

That was the message from councillors as they gave planning permission for a children’s hospice in Huddersfield – for the second time.

West Yorkshire Forget Me Not Trust yesterday won approval to build the £2.3m centre off Fell Greave Road in Brackenhall.

The charity was given planning permission for the development in July, 2007, but the three-year development period expired without work getting underway.

However, Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee yesterday gave the trust a second chance to build the hospice and respite centre.

Just before voting for the plan, Kirkburton Conservative Clr Christine Smith told the meeting: “I’m sorry to see this planning application back again because they said last time they were in a position to go ahead.

“I support this hospice wholeheartedly. Please make sure this goes ahead – we don’t want to come back to this in another three years.”

Earlier two Brackenhall residents asked councillors to block the development.

Penny Weynberg told the sub-committee that the hospice should not be built on a field which is designated as urban green space.

She said: “The trust needs to show there is a specific community benefit in order for this to be approved.

“The trust defines its catchment area as West Yorkshire, so the benefit of the hospice is not to the local community.”

Ms Weynberg added that the field should remain as green land.

“The local community will lose out through loss of this site,” she said.

“People use this site for dog-walking, running and playing. Those who live near the site benefit from having an open green space.”

Sarah Weynberg also spoke against the plan at yesterday’s meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

She cast doubt on the trust’s ability to raise the funds needed to run the hospice.