DEVELOPERS behind Mirfield’s controversial multi-million pound business park are reviewing their plans following public pressure.

They are now looking at replacing half of the proposed site, off Slipper Lane and Leeds Road, with a retirement village and bowling green.

The move, revealed at a meeting with Kirklees Council officials and councillors, has been welcomed by campaigners who say it is a step in the right direction.

Residents, led by Action Group Mirfield 25, have spent the last two years battling against the planned 30-acre development, which would include offices and manufacturing space, a pub and hotel.

A major concern was that the development would create a potential 50% increase in traffic using Stocks Bank Road and congestion in Slipper Lane.

They said the development on green field land would also be a disaster as an industrial unit was not in keeping with the character of the area.

They now hope that the proposed changes will help ease the problems.

Mirfield councillor Martyn Bolt, who was at the breakthrough meeting, said: “The major change is that 50% of the site allocated for industrial use is to become a close care retirement community.

“There are still concerns that the remaining industrial allocation will impact upon adjacent properties, but the plans are moving in the right direction for residents in terms of minimising the visual impact, and they now have the security of knowing exactly what they are going to get.

“We can reasonably assume that this will mean less of an influx of traffic at peak periods, particularly from HGVs, but we still have to see proposals for exactly how much traffic the site will generate.”

Clr Bolt said he was concerned that the new plans would still be detrimental to Mirfield.

He said: “I’m concerned that a large increase in the number of elderly residents will bring a demand for healthcare that Mirfield health professionals will not be able to cope with, and Mirfield health centre is already over-subscribed.

“Mirfield residents moving into the retirement community is also a problem because it will bring more people to the area as they move into their old homes.

“I am also concerned about the impact the development will have on our watercourses, especially following the recent floods, and the open pond on the site as young people have drowned in the quarry adjacent to the site. These issues need to be looked at.”

The revised plans still show two junctions leading from Leeds Road, a family pub and industrial units near to the houses on Taylor Lane, Slipper Lane and London Park estate.

Clr Bolt added “I don’t think there’s a market for another pub, as within 200 yards of the site there’s the Fountain Inn, and the Star Inn, which is an excellent establishment, is 300 yards away.

“What we do really need in the area is a conference centre as, since the loss of the Marmaville, the opportunity for family and other celebration venues are very limited in Mirfield.

“A conference centre would complement the remaining industrial units as businesses there would also be able to make use of it for meetings.”

Developers are currently working on the revised plans which are to be resubmitted to Kirklees Council.

Clr Bolt added: “It’s moving in the right direction, but the important issues that now need to be addressed are the impact of the traffic and the impact on health care.

“The new plans have taken some of the residents’ needs on board, which is a victory for them as, after two years, they finally feel that their concerns are being listened to.

“The changes would not have been made without the hard work of the action group, who have been working alongside councillors for the last two years, and they are to be congratulated.”