COUNCILLORS failed to block a housing development which they fear will flood.
Planners yesterday approved nineteen new homes at Hinchliffe Mill on Water Street in Holmbridge.
Kirklees Council’s Huddersfield Planning Sub-committee gave Developer MD One permission to convert the mill into seven apartments.
The company also won the right to build 12 two-storey homes on the 1.9 hectare site.
The Environment Agency had told Kirklees that the low-lying site won’t flood.
But sub-committee member Clr Christine Smith disagreed, calling the agency a “Mickey Mouse outfit”.
The Kirkburton Conservative added: “I think there’s a flood risk there because it’s so low down.”
Clr Ken Sims, who represents the area on Kirklees, also spoke against the development.
The Holme Valley South Conservative told yesterday’s sub-committee meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall that the site could not cope with so many homes.
Clr Sims said: “I think the site could take a maximum of eight houses. It’s not safe to have so many cars coming out onto that road.”
However, the sub-committee voted eight to five in favour of the plan.