Protesters against new homes plan for Bolton on Dearne ask for more time

Views on the Gleeson Homes proposal for 97 houses at land off Lowfield Road in Bolton on Dearne officially have to be in by tomorrow (10).

But the Friends of Lowfield Road Action Group (FLAG) has appealed for an extension to that deadline after residents had trouble opening several documents on the 

Barnsley Council website, with some of the files apparently being too large.

Group chairman Tom Holmes said in a letter to the council: “We would appreciate the extra time in order to gather a collective view of residents concerns and gather information about the application.”

Referring to the documents they had been able to view, group chairman Tom Holmes said several concerns had been raised.

He said a claim that the plans would “add to the number of environmental and visual amenity benefits” brought by previous developments was “misleading” and noted that some parts of the application appeared to have been copied from previous planning documents.

“There are a great number of other issues within the documentation we feel BMBC need to consider,” he said.

“It would appear the literature submitted has been taken from previous applications and therefore do not match the application being submitted.

“I must stress residents feel the initial objection will be based on the inaccuracies within the planning application.

“They feel these need to be addressed before they can make an informed decision.”

Mr Holmes also said a claim in the plans that the site was previously used for a furniture manufacturing company was incorrect.

He highlighted the group’s belief that the site in question was supposed to be “safeguarded” from building until 2033 — although Gleeson said this meant it was safeguarded for housing.

He added: “I would like to point out residents are dismayed by the visual display of agressiveness in that an application has been put forward to develop safeguarded land.

“A number attended a public consultation event and were dismayed at the bullish attitude of Gleeson’s representatives who said, and I quote: ‘It might be safeguarded land and if we don’t get our way we will appeal.’”

Mr Holmes called for a meeting with the council’s planning department to discuss the group’s concerns.

A spokeswoman for Gleeson, which received planning permission for 58 homes on a neighbouring site earlier this year, said: “Our planning application is for a natural extension to the very successful current development.  

“We have created 15 new construction jobs employing local people and the proposed development will ensure that their jobs are protected for some years to come.

“There appears to be a local misunderstanding about the definition of the land as ‘safeguarded’.  

“New housing has to go somewhere and safeguarded land is outside the green belt and is the next obvious choice.  

“We have had some useful comments from local people who have pointed out minor inaccuracies in our application and we will make the appropriate corrections which should further enhance the possibility of planning permission being granted.

“The houses will not be built overnight, we are just starting our second phase consisting of 58 houses which will take two years to complete and this application for 97 houses will take a further three years.  

“The whole development will take a further five years from now, during which time we will be training young apprentices on site and gradually adding to the community of Bolton on Dearne.”