A councillor is urging his constituents to protest about plans to build more than a hundred houses in Mirfield and prevent traffic chaos.

Wakefield developers Bellway Homes have applied for outline planning permission to Kirklees Council to build 96 houses on 12 acres at the Balderstone Hall green field site, off Wellhouse Lane.

And they want to build a further 26 on three acres of council-owned playing fields in Greenside. A rundown building on the land, previously home to Gilder Hall Youth Club, would be pulled down to make way for the homes.

The Council has earmarked the Greenside land for housing in its Unitary Development Plan but wants the other site to remain undeveloped.

However, the Department of Environment inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the UDP last year ruled houses could be built on the Balderstone Hall site if a new link road was created.

Another Mirfield councillor, Martyn Bolt, said: "This development would cause horrendous traffic problems in the area.

"There is the potential for two cars from each new house that is built, which will mean more than 200 extra cars on the roads.

Coun Bolt added: "Access to the Balderstone Hall site would be from Wellhouse Lane, just below Crossley Fields First School. This road is already very busy and cannot cope with more traffic.

"And Greenside effectively becomes one way when cars are parked one side of the road.

"I urge residents in the area to write individual letters of objection to the council, which will have more weight than a petition.''

He said residents needed to act now if they wanted to avoid the situation at Lower Hopton, where Bellway Homes was given permission to build more than 90 houses on appeal two years ago despite strong objections from residents and the Council.

Coun Bolt said: "Residents needn't feel discouraged this time because the Lower Hopton site already had outline planning permission dating back a number of years. There is a blank sheet, so to speak, with the latest application.''

Nick Cook, Bellway Homes group planner, said: "Our application takes into consideration highways issues and a full traffic impact assessment has been submitted to Kirklees Council.

"Our aim is to build a mixture of houses. These will include affordable houses and some for rent."

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