CAMPAIGNERS claim they have been let down by Kirklees Council planners after an appeal to halt building work at a Birkby beauty spot.
Clayton Fields Action Group members met with Kirklees Council last week to “cast serious doubt” over historic planning permission which the council had previously maintained is valid.
But activity on the site moved up a gear yesterday when fences were cemented into place and contractors were working on the plot.
The group urgently tried to contact Kirklees Council planners to issue a ‘stop notice’.
The action group is still fighting in the courts to keep the area between Birkby and Edgerton for public use.
Developers Paddico 267 Ltd fenced off the site three weeks ago despite a pending appeal which could force the land to remain as valuable amenity space.
Bill McGee, chairman of Clayton Fields Action Group, said: “We had a meeting with Kirklees Council last week and believe we gave them sufficient evidence to cast doubt over the authenticity of the 1967 planning permission.
“We also asked for the public footpaths which run around Clayton Fields to be reinstated on plans after they were inadvertently removed in 1996.
“This developer is completely destroying the fields.”
Mr McGee said he had contacted a number of Kirklees planners but had not received any explanation yesterday evening. He added: “A stop notice should be granted given the strength of the information we have given to the council.”
Earlier this week Paddico 267 Ltd chairman John Lund told the Examiner he was following the judge’s High Court guidance after he removed village green status – paving the way for development.
Mr Lund refused to explain why the development work could not wait until after leave to appeal – given that the site has been owned by the company since 2005.
