Our View
The growing threat to the Green Belt
IT is difficult not to have some sympathy with Bradford planners over the seemingly outrageous figures for future housing provision imposed by the Government.
The green belt in Wharfedale will be under threat in the next 20 years in a way that fearful residents have not experienced in the past. No-one likes to see houses on land which should remain as countryside but is there another way of facing the challenge. To take just one example, not so long ago the dilemma over the future of the derelict Lister's Mill in Manningham appeared insurmountable.
In one of those pie-in-the-sky schemes which Bradford councillors appear to be inordinately fond of, the proposal was mooted that Manningham Mills should become the northern branch of London's famous Victorian and Albert Museum. Of course, any brave soul suggesting that the idea was a ridiculous non-starter was hushed up quickly in the same rigorous manner as those who dared to intimate that the city's Capital of Culture bid was, to say the least, flawed.
When all the lawyers, designers and consultants drawing up the plans had departed, the scheme was quickly swept under the carpet allowing housing developers - who tend to have a firmer grip on reality - to move in and save the historic building complex for posterity by converting it into flats.
Anyone travelling through the largely derelict centre of Bradford at the moment will notice that there is a veritable cornucopia of former mill buildings which could be utilised in exactly the same way, thereby preserving the valuable industrial landscape and character of Worstedopolis' as well as providing much needed cheaper housing, and eating up at least some of the Government's figures of extra housing need. A similar project could transform Keighley.
It would not be ideal to see the whole city turned into a vast housing estate. But at least it would be preferable to doing nothing practical at the same time as paying vast fortunes to architects, lawyers, designers, accountants and consultants in return for ever more preposterous plans never to see the light of day.
9:37am Thursday 3rd January 2008
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CommentPosted by: Brian Phillips, Ilkley on 8:18am Tue 8 Jan 08
I agree and does not the vacated Spooner's site afford the opportunity to provide low cost housing to meet local needs rather than a Tesco superstore, which few residents appear to want or need?
There is also an acute shortage of weekday free parking, why not suggest to Tesco that they look at the old Cara caravan site?
Tesco could incorporate a proper roundabout providing safer access to the sports fields.
I agree and does not the vacated Spooner's site afford the opportunity to provide low cost housing to meet local needs rather than a Tesco superstore, which few residents appear to want or need?
There is also an acute shortage of weekday free parking, why not suggest to Tesco that they look at the old Cara caravan site?
Tesco could incorporate a proper roundabout providing safer access to the sports fields.
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