Yorkshire Water has come up with a new plan to replace the dilapidated reservoir at Hartshead Moor after the original scheme was thrown out.

The company is seeking planning permission from Kirklees Council to build two circular, covered 5.7-metre-high partially-buried concrete storage tanks in Halifax Road, along with a temporary and permanent access road and a service building.

One of the tanks will be on the site of the existing Hartshead Moor service reservoir built in 1904 which YW says needs to be replaced because it leaks, is in poor structural condition, a health risk and too small to meet the needs of 8,300 customers in the Spen Valley.

The other tank will be in an open field nearby, next to houses in Halifax Road, Moorfield Way and Moorfield Avenue.

The company says the new reservoir will have room for 1,689,600 gallons of water, compared with the existing 844,800 gallons. The scheme would be completed by the end of next year.

Originally YW wanted to build the new reservoir in a green belt field further along Halifax Road but the Council refused planning approval after a storm of protest from residents.

They said a reservoir there would be a blot on the landscape, cause traffic dangers and there were concerns about noise and dust during building work.

Stephen Rowell, of Hartshead Moor Top Residents Action Group, which spearheaded the fight, said: "We are delighted with this new scheme. It is what we suggested in the first place.

"If Yorkshire Water had bothered to consult the residents initially, the new reservoir would be half-built by now.''

Today's heavy woollen area planning committee sub-committee was being asked to refer the application to the planning and economic development committee as green belt land is involved and the field is earmarked for housing in the Unitary Development Plan.

Planning officer Edward Wills recommends approval because he says the proposed site will cause least harm to the green belt in the area.

He also points out the piece of land designated for housing is only small and therefore not a great loss and that the permanent access road will only be used once a week.

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