A YOUTH worker sounded a confident note about his plan to build a community centre after some people living near the site complained.
John Peters, chairman of the Grange Moor Community Action Group, was recently given the go-ahead for the new building on Back Lane by Kirklees councillors.
But some villagers have complained to Kirklees about the decision by the council’s Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-committee.
Mr Peters said: “Everything was conducted in the proper manner, so I’m not worried about the complaint.”
Former Kirkburton parish councillor Roy Dobson has led the complaints, saying the new centre would increase anti-social behaviour and be out of keeping with houses on Back Lane.
But Mr Peters denied both these points.
He said: “There are 2,900 community centres in the UK and, overall, they bring down anti-social behaviour. Since we started a youth club on Liley Lane last November anti-social behaviour has gone down.
“As for the proposed building, yes it will be made of artificial stone. But it will still look nice. And, contrary to what Mr Dobson said, the roof will not be made of tin but of plastic that will look like tiles.”
Mr Peters added that he thought Mr Dobson was in a minority in Grange Moor in opposing the development.
He said: “There’s a hard core of people causing problems, but the rest of the community wants us to get on with it.”
