By WLD editor John Baron
There’s nothing quite like a controversial planning application to spark debate – or get people angry.
The proposals for more than 60 properties at the former Airedale Mills site have been the focus of many an article, Facebook comment and conversation over coffees and pints in Rodley over the past couple of years.
The protracted issues over the new swing bridge – which took more than a year to open and are still the subject of a number of snagging issues – have done little to enamour the proposed development to villagers.
Thursday could see the long saga come closer to a conclusion on Thursday, with planning officers recommending elected councillors approve the detailed housing plans in principle and defer the final decision to the council’s chief planning officer to agree a raft of 23 conditions.
Given that the site is allocated for housing in the council’s Site Allocation Plan and already has outline permission, it’s unlikely councillors will have grounds to say a flat ‘no’ to the plans, but they have a duty to get the best possible outcome for Rodley’s existing residents and the adjoining nature reserve and cricket club.
I’ll be reporting from the planning meeting at Leeds Civic Hall on Thursday and it’ll be interesting to see what councillors decide.
That was the week that was
Our other most-read articles this week are a combination of planning applications, with some ‘good news’ stories thrown in.
The most-read article his week were the approval of long-running plans to turn the top two floors of the disused former Factory Outlet building into nine apartments in Pudsey town centre, despite concerns over parking. The proposals certainly sparked debate in Pudsey.
Second most-read article was a good news story – the reopening of the Bankhouse pub in Fulneck following a £370,000 refurbishment. The Bankhouse certainly looks stunning and – as someone who’s been a regular for years and who classes this as their favourite pub – I can’t wait to sample a pint after the pub was closed for the past three years.
Roadworks are always a bane of people’s lives – and our article about roadworks over February half-term at Stanningley Bypass and Armley Gyratory was certainly well read. You have been warned…
And it was good to type the words ‘Calverley Parkside is a school transformed‘ this week as the Ofsted heralded a major turnaround in the school’s fortunes with a glowing report.
If you have a story you think we should be featuring, please drop me a line on news@westleedsdispatch.com.
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