THEY’RE more used to battling the elements in search for stranded hikers.

But now members of Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team face a new fight – with Kirklees Council’s planners.

The group has asked for permission to build a new base in Robert Ashton Memorial Park in Meltham.

The volunteers are looking for a permanent home after spending the last seven years at Marsden Fire Station.

Meltham Town Council has offered Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team the park site for a peppercorn rent.

But Kirklees planners have opposed the development, saying it would “harm the visual amenity” of the area and lead to “the loss of allotments”.

The council’s Planning and Highways Committee will rule on the application next week after Holme Valley North independent Clr Terry Lyons intervened.

He wrote: “I would request that this be referred to the planning committee for their decision on the grounds that this is a voluntary organisation that has been based in Meltham for many years – over 20 years – without a permanent base.

“Their role is life-saving and serves the Holme Valley, Colne Valley and beyond.

“The community benefit is immeasurable but certainly much greater than one temporary, shaded allotment (unused these past years) when there has been 34 additional allotments provided by Meltham Town Council since the submission of this plan.

“Furthermore the temporary allotment holder has secured one of the 34 plots.

“This planned structure would consolidate the mountain rescue team for the future, which is more than welcome in these austere times, when volunteering is in short supply.

“In this particular case, the reasons in favour far outweigh the flimsy reasons against.”

The rescue team has asked Kirklees for permission to build a 16.5sq m one-storey building made of natural stone and cedar boarding on an informal allotment site in the park. The new base would include three parking spaces.

The 38-strong team answers an average of 18 calls a year from its current temporary base at Marsden Fire Station.

The group was previously based at the Coach House at Meltham Hall.

Twelve people have written to Kirklees objecting to the plan to set up a new base in the park, including nine residents from Meltham, two from Ilkley and one from Slaithwaite.

Their objections include:

Increase in traffic

Loss of allotments

Impact on the park and nearby listed buildings.

The objectors have suggested alternative sites, including Meltham Fire Station and Meltham Mills.

Kirklees planning officers accept “there are no reasonably available alternative sites that would provide the opportunity for development”.

The officials also admit that “the allotment area is unused apart from the small area currently used on a temporary basis by a holder who currently has a designated allotment on the same site”.

However, the officers have recommended the proposal is refused planning permission because it “is not of a scale and design that is considered appropriate within Robert Ashton Memorial Park, which contains a number of listed buildings”.

The Planning and Highways Committee will rule on the proposal at its meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall from 2pm next Thursday.

Family rescued from moors in middle of the night