DEADLINE FOR OBJECTIONS: 24th NOVEMBER 2022
The developers and Kirklees have pushed the proposed development to a crucial stage, we now have the opportunity to object to it.
It is really easy to do and only takes a few minutes. You don’t need a Kirklees online account and you can submit your objection anonymously if you wish.
Please also share this page with others who may find it useful.
Guidance for each is on this page further down.
Before you start, please read our pointers on how to get the most impact from your comments.
1. Your objection needs to be in your own words.
While we have written this guide to assist you in your objection, the words and sentiment have to be your own. Please use the information below to make sure your points will have the most impact possible, but write it from your own point of view.
2. Your objection needs to be relevant to the planning process.
The list below is all the main ‘valid’ reasons for an objection.
You can click on each one for more information and use it to see which ones you are concerned about – just pick out the parts that apply to you from your chosen point and write as much as you wish on your comment.
This is an important and more recent concern given the ongoing war in Ukraine. Natural England have requested site-specific surveys to assess the quality of the land, but the Land Owner (Church Commissioners for Church of England) has refused to do so. The Land Owner states that the need for new housing and employment outweighs the loss of agricultural land. The Planning Department have admitted they do not know if the land is of better agricultural value than the Land Owner claims and it appears there are no plans to conduct the assessments repeatedly requested by Natural England.
Their report based on the October Ecologist walk-over, claims the development will deliver 10% more biodiversity than in its current state. A previous Biodiversity Net Gain report, based on exact same conditions, was assessed at 14% Net Loss so how do the same plans increase by 24%? The net loss in 2020 was advised independently by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust but it appears the Planning Department and Land Owner have ignored the comments made by the YWT Ecologist.
Multiple have been evidenced on site by local community. These species have additional protection in the planning process but are not considered if they are not in the Ecological Surveys. We have evidenced Schedule 1 species: Kingfisher, Red Kite and Barn Owl. The Land Owner has dismissed our evidence to say the species are only foraging on site and not resident. Have you ever seen these species on site? The Kingfisher has been recorded regularly on the waterway just below the site and if waterways become polluted it will lose its feeding ground. This is not being considered in the planning process currently.
Bats are crucial to our ecology and have been reported by the Land Owner’s Ecologist as having ‘no significant activity on site’. We have over 9,000 verified recordings of bat calls in and around the 2 Ancient Woodlands. Have you ever seen bat activity on or around the site?
Woods, fields, streams and fields contribute to climate resilience and act as a cool zone. Changes to land use affect its health and ability to fight climate change
Crucial to many of our lives and that of our children. Especially since the onset of lockdowns restricting travel.
Loss of green lung that separates Leeds, Wakefield & Kirklees
Impact on Kirklees Wildlife Habitat Network / Local Wildlife sites. This is an important link in the wider habitat network.
The surrounding buffer has been identified as too small to prevent damage to the Woodlands. Not building on woods won’t stop them being destroyed. There are other impacts that will cause the death of the woods.
Objections from CPRE & the Woodland Trust were redacted by the Planning Department, to remove details of who they were from when published on the Planning Portal.
Click on your preferred option or continue scrolling.
This is the preferred way, if you have access to a computer and the internet. Your objection will be added to the councils website automatically. Please use this method and advise others to do so where possible.
This is the second best way if you have an internet connected computer. NB: This method relies on someone at the council adding the objection to the online portal and carries a potential for error or 'getting lost'.
This is the third best way but still worth doing if the person objecting doesn't use computers or the internet. NB: This method relies heavily on the council adding it and carries a larger risk of not being submitted in time.
You will see a confirmation page which will include your case number.
You WILL NOT receive an email confirming your submission – if you want to keep a record, either take a screenshot of the confirmation page or click the button at the bottom of the confirmation page that says ‘Download PDF’.
It is by taking the time to do it, that we not only help ourselves but also help each other. Not just those of us that are also objecting, but for those who can’t or don’t know that they can or how.
Please share the message and share this page with everyone and anyone you think may wish to also take action.
If these fields were to go, they would be gone forever – never again a source of food for our own country and never again the home of all the wildlife that currently flourishes there.
Many thanks,
The Chidswell Action Team.
