M25 application halted following MP pressure
12 July 2007
The developers of the Mirfield 25 project have agreed to halt their planning application and look once more at their proposal following a meeting organised by local MP Shahid Malik and attended by the AGM25 campaign group organiser Malc Brown, and Kirklees Council.Developers Knight Frank and Urban Evolution had initially drawn up plans for the site which included light industrial units, offices and leisure facilities. Local residents voiced concerns about the potential impact the development would have upon traffic, congestion and the environment. After a request by Mr Malik, Knight Frank has agreed to look again at the plans and to halt the application submitted to Kirklees Council.
As a means of moving forward Mr Malik proposed the establishment of a working group - to be established by Mr Brown and himself, which would explore various options in a bid to deal with the problem of traffic congestion and the visual impact resulting from any proposed development. Following this work a series of options will be presented and discussed by local people who have indicated their interest in involving themselves in the consultation process.
Mr Malik said: "I am grateful to the developers for their mature and sensible agreement on my approach to help address some of the genuine concerns of local people. The working group will include a small number of local people and I have asked Malc Brown to decide on the final composition. Malc has also made it clear that if he and the AGM25 group are unhappy with all options they reserve the right to say 'no' to any development."
The move to set up a working group was welcomed by Mr Brown: "We are grateful for Mr Malik's intervention at this point and we welcome the developer's undertaking to halt progress on the current application whilst we continue our explorations."
"We are moving forward one step at a time and are prepared to see where these discussions take us. We want to see whether the developers can come up with options which represent genuine, innovative thinking and which satisfy the concerns of Mirfield residents. We should be under no illusions that this is a tall order".
Mr Brown added: "It is good that all parties have a desire to dialogue but we must be aware that we have a difficult road ahead of us."
The newly appointed Minister of International Development said that he was pleased with the public support for his intervention: "A number of people have already contacted my office following a briefing I mailed to the hundreds of residents who signed petitions in opposition to the development. This will be an open process and people who still want to get involved can do so by contacting my office on: 01924 465432 or emailing me at: maliks@parliament.uk"
Following the publication of Mr Malik's briefing paper on the M25 development last month Mr Malik commented: "I warmly welcome the support that I have received after investing a lot of time trying to help move forward on this issue. I think as we do move forward we need to recognise that local people deserve honesty. It's frustrating when local people are mislead and instead told what someone believes they want to hear. It might make you popular in the short term but you will eventually be exposed when you cannot deliver on your promises to halt this development or that development."
Sticking with his honesty theme, the Labour MP said: "The truth is that the developers would be within their rights to develop on the land as it is a part of the Unitary Development Plan and is designated as a premier employment site by the Kirklees Council - and this was again confirmed by council officers."
"As we move forward I think that we all need to recognise that people in Mirfield deserve honesty from all involved, elected representatives, Knight Frank and Kirklees Council. I am not interested in gaining short term popularity through tub-thumping or making promises that are unrealistic."
"Ultimately, those in leadership positions who promise to halt developments will obviously be exposed when people realise that they cannot deliver. Those making such short term promises frustrate real progress."
"I have impressed upon the developers the need to engage with the people of Mirfield in a meaningful and structured manner so that they can help shape the outcome on the site. Thus far, the developers have listened and I hope we can now start to move forward and work together in an honest manner, and without the party political baggage that could slow down this process - this issue is above party politics."