Planning Committee

The Parish Council Planning Committee looks at all the planning applications that are sent in to Kirklees Council from our area. Large or contentious plans are considered by full council. We then put in observations, which may include things that the planning department may have not thought about. The planning department have a legal duty to consult us on planning applications, but Kirklees always makes the final decision.

If a planning application concerns you, come to our meeting and express your feelings. At the start of every meeting there is time set aside for members of the public to talk to us, telling us your worries. You can also contact your local councillors, both on the Parish Council and on Kirklees Council, and write to the planning department with your objections.

Councillors who are on the planning committee are not allowed to say before a meeting if they are for or against a planning application, due to the rules and regulations governing local councils. If they do this, they are then not allowed to take part in the decision on this particular application. They also have to declare if they have been 'lobbied' by members of the public, but this does not affect taking part in the decision on the application. We can only object to developments on valid planning grounds so speak to us or the planning department about this. Kirklees can only say no to a development for valid reasons, otherwise their decision can be overturned on appeal.

A recent large planning application was 'The Piggeries' at Strike Lane, Skelmanthorpe, which was for 30 houses. The Parish Council objected to this for several reasons. These included the fact that it was a 'greenfield development' which goes against planning guidance as 'brownfield sites' (areas which have previously been built on) have to be used first (protecting our open spaces and green fields), and highways safety issues as this would create a lot more traffic for an already congested area with small access roads.

If you have any comments about new developments in the area why not get in touch, or leave comments here. Do you believe green fields should be protected? I believe there is a need for affordable houses but these should be built on a very small scale, thus protecting the character and open spaces in and around our villages. Stating this, i should also mention that all applications have to be considered individually on their own merits, otherwise i would be seen as biast which would prohibit me from taking part in discussions and decisions.