Agenda item

In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, at the discretion of the Chair a period of up to 10 minutes may be allocated at each ordinary meeting for members of the public to make representations or to ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee.  This period of time may be extended at the discretion of the Chair.  No member of the public shall speak for more than three minutes in the Open Forum, except by permission of the Chair.

In accordance with Paragraphs 6.24 and 6.25 of the Area Committee Procedure Rules, the Chair allowed a period of up to 10 minutes for members of the public to make representations or ask questions on matters within the terms of reference of the Area Committee:-

a) Planned Residential Developments within the Outer North West Area

Clive Woods, Aireborough Civic Society reported his concerns about the number of planned residential developments within the Outer North West area which was contributing towards the problems of congestion on the A65/A660, especially at weekends. He also referred to an increasing number of Brownfield sites which were obtaining planning permission and circulated a list of examples for the information/comment of the meeting.

Robert Turner, a local resident also attended and made reference to a number of issues around health and transport within the Guiseley area . He also supported the above comments made by Clive Woods.

The Chair invited comments from Members of the Committee and in summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• the fact that this issue had been debated previously at the Guiseley and Rawdon Forum and that a further meeting was planned with all interested parties i.e. Planning/Highways representatives: MP for Pudsey etc to discuss the implications on the A65
• the current position in respect of employment sites in relation to Springhead Mills and Moons on Netherfield Road
• the need to acknowledge that there was some issues with the Local Development Framework and the Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) which affected the whole valley in Outer North West and to invite planning officers to the Area Committee to explain the protocol behind the above documents
• the need for the Area Committee to acknowledge that there were too many planning permissions (as opposed to planning applications) being granted in the Outer North West area
• the need to obtain the views of Bradford City Council on this issue
• the concerns expressed that the A65 was not now part of the national primary network without any prior consultation with Elected Members
• the need for a Core Strategy to be in place as officers state that the city had a surplus of employment sites
• the need for evidence to be gathered for the Area Committee which supported the view that the commuter corridor was now beyond capacity

The Acting West North West Area Manager responded to the comments made and put forward the following two options for the Area Committee to consider:-

1. Consult the Chief Planning Officer with the view of drawing up an action plan/report on the issue of planned residential development within the Outer North West area
2. Refer the issue to the Transport Sub Group for discussion and to obtain the views of local residents, including an input from the Aireborough Civic Society

Following these discussions, the Committee agreed to proceed with these options and to revisit this issue at a future Area Committee meeting.

(Councillor R Downes joined the meeting at 2.35pm during discussions of the above item)