Progress on Mirfield 25 development
27 July 2007
Local MP Shahid Malik welcomed the compromise made by developers in their plans for the Mirfield25 development.The new plans for the site were submitted to the working group led by the Mr Malik and AGM25 campaigner Malc Brown at a meeting held last Friday. They include developing roughly half the site as a retirement village instead of industrial units which would include a restaurant, coffee shop, bowling green and other facilities which would be open to the wider community.
It is predicted that the revised 'softer' development options would have a dramatic effect on traffic and congestion, for example, it would reduce HGV traffic by 50%.
Shahid said: "Despite the revised plans on the table there are still genuine concerns from residents over congestion, traffic and localised pollution and it is these very issues that I will be seeking reassurances on before we progress further."
Mr Malik said that it was essential that the development enjoyed the confidence of local people: " It's essential that the developers continue to listen to sensible, positive dialogue from myself, Malc Brown, AGM25 and local residents and move the plans forward in a satisfactory manner taking on board the views and opinions of the Mirfield public. The latest plans we've seen signal very positive movement."
Malc Brown, Chairman of AGM-25 said: Malc Brown, chairman of AGM-25 said "I was particularly pleased with the meeting as I felt the people in attendance from AGM-25 were a solid cross section of AGM-25 who, following the developer's presentation, were able to raise a number of intelligent and pertinent points. It was good to have with us David Storrie, a planning consultant attending on behalf of Mirfield Town Council, who was able to give us objective advice.
The meeting was a good representation of all the interested parties and as a consequence we will be able to continue moving forward. It is vital that we work together to arrive at a satisfactory outcome for what is an extremely important development, in terms of the land itself and the consequential effects upon Mirfield and surrounding areas. AGM-25 is committed to continue finding the best way forward".
Other community benefits would include a bus service to the site and improvements to the highways. There are discussions ongoing with Arriva and Metro with respect to a new bus route to service the development.
It is thought that the initial plans would have created 1400 jobs, but the new scaled down project would mean just over 900 new jobs.
Amelia Bolton, Secretary of Action Group Mirfield 25 said: "The meeting last Friday was interesting, the developers made some presentations that appeared to consider some of the concerns highlighted by AGM25."
Amelia added: "Whilst AGM25 is fundamentally against the development we want to maintain open dialogue with the developers. We want to engage in further meetings to positively influence and fully understand the implications of the concepts discussed last Friday."
Mr Malik thanked Nicola Musgrave, Councillor Martin Bolt, Amelia Bolton, David Storrie, and Kevin Jackson for their involvement in the meeting and confirmed that the formal public consultation process was likely to take place in September when people return from holidays to ensure maximum involvement from local people.