FROM the outset it has been a contentious site.

On one side is a company which wants to build a date campus on more than 40 acres of land.

On the other are a group of residents who say the centre plans are neither viable nor desirable.

What lies at the heart of the dispute is the future of land at the junction of Lindley Moor Road and Crosland Road at Lindley Moor.

Developers Stirling Scotfield say the 12 data storage buildings would benefit the town by providing a secure site for organisations like banks and internet-based businesses to house their computer servers creating about 150 jobs.

But the Lindley Moor Action Group questions the demand for the campus, says the likely number of jobs has been inflated and the development is against the green aspirations of Kirklees Council, the Government and the EU.

Now a planning inspector will look at both sides of the debate and a Government minister will make the final decision on the future of a site which is clearly valuable both to the local community and to the town.

Any decision must reflect those long term interests which is why the public should not miss this opportunity to express their views.

Time is short with the deadline for comment on the plans set at April 1.

Though development on this part of Lindley Moor has long been controversial, there may well be many others who have yet to voice their view on the site. Do it now or lose control over what happens to an area which is important to many in the town.