Newsome protest over housing plans

THEY made a defiant stand on the fields they want to save.

Over 150 local people in Newsome and Hall Bower turned out on Saturday to express their opposition to any proposals to develop on greenfield and greenbelt land below Castle Hill.

It was a demonstration of their fears over proposals in the controversial Local Development Framework.

The plan is for many thousands of new homes to be built in areas across Kirklees.

Many of them will have to be constructed in areas that are currently greenbelt, or on the fringes of those areas.

Some villages could see hundreds of new homes and people in Newsome are worried that development will spread out below the historic Huddersfield landmark that is Castle Hill.

Green Party councillor Julie Stewart-Turner said: “It’s been a great turnout showing peoples genuine concern for our greenfield sites in Newsome and below Castle Hill”.

The land they fear could be developed is bordered by High Lane, Ashes Lane and New Laithe Hill.

Much of the site is owned by Kirklees Council as is the land below Jackroyd Lane towards Huddersfield town centre.

Clr Stewart-Turner said: “We are going through the Local Development Framework process and it is vital that local opinions about maintaining our open spaces are not only expressed but listened to and acted upon.