GOVERNMENT ministers look set to have the final say on a controversial development after a legal expert gave the plan the green light.

Campaigners fear the proposed data centre on Lindley Moor will increase traffic congestion at the nearby Ainley Top roundabout.

But Kirklees Council’s top legal officer Vanessa Redfern yesterday ruled the development could go ahead – despite fears there is not enough money to fund the £2.07m improvements to the area’s roads.

Reacting to the news, Lindley Lib Dem Clr Cahal Burke predicted campaigners would appeal to the Secretary of State for Communities to block the data centre.

“I’m not happy at all about this legal advice,” he said.

“I don’t agree with it. It seems that the planners are trying to push things through.

“I don’t think we’ll leave it at this. We’ll have to look through the paperwork and see what way we approach this.

“I absolutely think we’ll ask the secretary of state to review this.”

Earlier this month the council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee voted eight to seven to allow the data centre to be built on 18 hectares of Lindley Moor off Crosland Road.

Developer Stirling Scotfield wants to use the land to provide a secure site for companies to store their computer servers.

However, a linked proposal from Miller Homes to construct 300 houses nearby was voted down by eight to seven.

Both developers had promised to help fund improvements to surrounding roads if planning permission was granted.

Clr Burke asked Kirklees officers to investigate if the data centre could go ahead when the homes plan had been refused.

Ms Redfern responded yesterday with an 11-page ruling.