Welcome

Our Association has been formed by the people of Holmewood,Tong, Fulneck as well as people from the cities of Leeds and Bradford who all want to work together to protect the greenbelt of the Tong Fulneck Valley from further development.

Join us to oppose Bradford Council's plans to destroy beautiful local countryside in Tong and Westgate Hill. Bradford have included a massive release of green belt protected land in their Local Development Framework (LDF) plans that will be debated shortly in their full Council meeting.

Now is the time to strongly oppose them! For the following reasons:

• The land provides a vital countryside 'lung' between Leeds and Bradford.
• There could be even greater loss of countryside in the future.
• Bradford Council should first be developing crumbling brownfield and derelict sites.
• Tong Street, and narrow farm roads will be even more gridlocked than they are already.
• The new road that is planned will become a most dreadful 'rat-run' through Holme Wood.
• The new housing plans are completely disproportionate to the total amount required.
• People in these new homes will bring little or no economic benefit to Bradford.
• The green belt loss will damage the heritage sites of Fulneck and Tong.

Moreover, we can suggest a number of very effective ways of opposing Bradford Council's plans.

Firstly - join us for our PROTECT WALK on Saturday February 29th. We will be meeting at near Tong Lane End Farm Shop. We meet at 9.45 am to leave promptly at 10 am. You can park your car in Tong Lane, or in the layby opposite. We will be walking on a route into the Tong Valley near to the boundary of the land under threat, and then into Mossdale and Denrbook estates - where we'll drum up support from local people, and then walk back on the Wakefield. Do please bring banners and placards etc etc - we want to make a real challenge to this. Do bring your children, and dogs (on a lead of course)

Secondly - VOTE IN THE LOCAL ELECTIONS for a candidate who will be opposing this green belt release. Tragically, our current Ward Councillors are all supporting this wanton destruction of the countryside, but there are other candidates standing who are opposed to it. We need to demonstrate clearly to our local politicians by the way we vote in this election that this is a matter of grave local concern, and, that we will do everything we can to oppose it.

NOTHING HAS YET BEEN DECIDED

Don't believe those who are telling you that this is already signed and sealed. IT IS NOT. Our campaign is now moving forward into a new phase, as we gather local people up into a powerful lobby. First and foremost we want Bradford Council to withdraw the green belt release from their LDF Core Strategy. However, if they refuse, there will be another six week period for people and groups to object to their scheme. We want to see even stronger opposition to the green belt release in this period, so that Planning Inspectors will take this into account when they independently examine Bradford's flawed plans.

THERE'S LOTS TO ENCOURAGE US

• Leeds and Kirklees Metropolitan Council are opposed to Bradford's plans, and have made formal objections that will be very seriously taken account of at a later stage.
• The Bradford Telegraph and Argus have spearheaded a great 'save our green spaces' campaign, and we can expect that they will be giving lots of space to our initiatives and pressure.
• A petition to the Council opposing the destruction of the countryside was happily signed by over 12,000 local people - from Holme Wood, Tong Street and Tong Village.
• Lots more people are bringing their support......but we want yours too!

JOIN US....LET'S MOVE IT.....LET'S CHANGE THIS CRAZY PLAN.......LET'S PROTECT OUR COUNTRYSIDE