FEARS are growing that land in Mirfield could soon be transformed in to a "neon nightmare".

Signs have gone up encouraging companies to come forward to develop the land off Leeds Road.

Rumours have been rife in Mirfield and neighbouring Roberttown for some time that the land would be built on.

The land, owned by offshore company Park Crescent, is earmarked in Kirklees Council's development plans for potential use for offices and warehouses.

But Kirklees councillor Martyn Bolt believes the 30-acre could easily be turned into a leisure and retail park, like the one near Junction 27 of the M62 at Birstall.

The former Mirfield Mayor said: "My biggest concern is this site will become another neon nightmare, like the one in Birstall.

"There is very little we can do to stop the development of offices, because the land has been classified as available for that use.

"What we must fight is the development of retail concerns."

Clr Bolt also raised concerns about the levels of traffic along Leeds Road, Sunnybank Road and through Roberttown.

"These roads are already at breaking point," he said.

"They cannot handle any more traffic. Once you have staff travelling to that area by car the problems will increase a lot.

"At peak times we already have large queues along Sunnybank Road and back down Leeds Road towards Heckmondwike.

"Everything will bottleneck. Potentially, there could be knock-on effects from traffic travelling to Mirfield through Dewsbury, Ravensthorpe and Cooper Bridge."

A spokesman for Leeds-based agents Colliers CRE said there had already been a lot of interest.

He said: "We have had a lot of interest in the site after the signs went up and it was advertised nationally. It is a prime spot because it is on the Leeds Road corridor and very close to Junction 25 of the M62.

"So far there is only permission for industrial use, but, of course, there would be a lot of interest in building leisure units."

Mirfield Town Council member Edwin Pugh last night asked its Planning Scrutiny Committee to employ an independent planning consultant to analyse the plans.

A final decision about the consultant will be made at the next Town Council meeting on Tuesday, September 13.