More than 150 people packed into a Lindley church last night to hear residents’ concerns about plans by Thornhill Estates to create 190 houses in the Grimescar Valley.
The application came on the back of consent approved last month for 31 homes on land off nearby Crosland Road – and 294 houses being built on adjacent land to the latest Lindley Moor site.
Residents are fearful that Lindley’s creaking infrastructure will struggle to cope with any more major developments in the area.
Colne Valley MP Jason McCartney, who chaired the meeting at Lindley Methodist Church, said he was delighted at the turn-out.
He said: “This is the last bit of green space that is separating Kirklees and Calderdale.
“It is a rare little piece of tranquillity and greenery in this part of West Yorkshire and this may well be our last stand.
“The schools are massively oversubscribed and every September I have parents coming to see me to about problems getting their children in.
“Halifax Road and New Hey Road are choc-a-bloc.
“People have come out in on a dark Thursday evening to show how much they care about what is happening.
“Hundreds of objections have gone in and I am doing what I can behind the scenes to get this development stopped.”
He said he had a battle-hardened team including members of Save Grimescar Valley and Save Lindley Moor.
The meeting was also attended by Kirklees Community Action Network.
Mr McCartney added: “They are very experience and we have learnt the lessons from dealing with previous planning applications.”
Kenneth Ball, 66, who has lived with his wife Denise in Carr Street, Lindley, for over 30 years said: “Many of the roads around Lindley are gridlocked. At rush hour you can’t move.
“I think as an area it is getting to be overpopulated. They are taking all the green land away from us and there’s no where to take your children any longer for a walk.
“I have lived here for over 30 years and I don’t want to see any more development. If they get permission to build in the Grimescar Valley it will be horrendous.”
Gemma Wilson, a committee member of Save Grimescar Valley, said: “We are hoping to raise awareness of what is being proposed and are asking people to write in individually to oppose the development.”
