PLANS to regenerate an historic Shepley bakery which has stood empty for years have been given the thumbs down by residents.
Trustees of Copley’s Bakery, which first opened its doors in the 1930s, have put in plans to convert the dilapidated abandoned buildings on Field Head Road – the A629 main road through the village – into two houses and a flat.
A terrace of three three-bedroom houses is also planned for land behind the site and a new access will be built from Firth Street, which will also have its pavement widened.
Ken George, a neighbour and former friend of baker’s wife Muriel Copley, who died in 2005, welcomed some action at the decaying site but said he was concerned about how long it had taken to begin.
Mr George, a documentary film-maker, revealed he had a copy of Mrs Copley’s will which showed proceeds from the sale of the site were supposed to be split between three charities – The Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue and a donkey sanctuary.
He said: “There’s something amiss here, why has it taken so long. Over three years? In effect they have cost these charities a lot of money because of the current credit crunch.
“The house has been robbed, stone has been taken and one of my neighbours found a (hypodermic) needle.
“Only last week I threw some kids out who had been setting fire to things.”
The Express & Chronicle attempted to contact the trustees of the estate but no comment was given.
Former Kirklees councillor for Kirkburton, Peter Sykes, who lives opposite the old bakery, said: “We have put in an objection as have at least three other neighbours.
“Something does needs doing, the houses on the front of the main road are in bits and are going to fall down. But like all these things they seem to want to put too much in and squeeze in extra cars.
“Most people are worried about traffic on Firth Street (which serves Shepley Junior and Infants School, the village recreation ground and tennis club). Frequently one has to go onto the pavement to get clear of the vehicles.”
“It looks like (from the plans) some residents will have to reverse onto Firth Street to get out of their parking space.
“More thought needs to be given, with the highways issue. I can’t see the answer.”
