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.

BRADFORD’S ‘LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK CORE STRATEGY’

Bradford Council have published a draft of their ‘Local Development Framework’ (LDF) Core Strategy that makes proposals for future use of land in Bradford Metropolitan district for the building of new houses. They are currently ‘consulting’ with people and interested groups to gain responses to their plans. This ‘consultation’ ends on January 20th.

They are proposing that 2,700 homes be built in Tong and Holme Wood, of which 2,100 would be through release of green belt land in the Tong Fulneck Valley and at Westgate Hill. This would be almost 10 % of the new homes they propose to build in Bradford city region.

Tong Fulneck Valley Association is opposing plans to build 1800 homes in the Tong Valley and at Westgate Hill

Because:

• The land to be built on is all greenbelt land. Loss of it will seriously rupture the vital and historic countryside ‘lung’ between Leeds & Bradford and that is so widely valued and appreciated.
• The land is adjacent to the heritage sites of Fulneck and Tong. The scale of the building development will seriously damage the unique setting that this land offers these communities, and the many others who enjoy the growing recreational opportunities they create.
• The proportion of new housing that the area is being required to provide (10% of the total in the City region) is completely disproportionate to the total amount required.
• The development will result in a huge increase in traffic, particularly on the Wakefield Road/Tong Street, in Tong Lane, and on the narrow farm roads between Holme Wood and Tong Village, resulting in the area being even more gridlocked than it is already.
• The new road from the end of the Drighlington bypass to the top of Raikes Lane would become a dreadful ‘rat-run’ into Holme Wood, as motorists try to avoid the escalating traffic congestion.
• Those who come to live in these new homes would bring little or no economic benefit to Bradford, as they would seek schools, employment, leisure and shopping opportunities in Leeds and Kirklees. Indeed Bradford’s economic prospects will be damaged by this development, as will also sustainable community development in Holme Wood.

We are requesting that Bradford Council radically changes its plans, and limit any housing development to areas that do not require release of greenbelt protected land in this area.

ANY ONE IS FREE TO RESPOND TO THESE PROPOSALS SEE HOW ON OUR NEWS PAGE