PLANS to build 43 homes in Heckmondwike have been thrown out after the developer failed to complete work on access roads. Officers with Kirklees Council said the failure to complete the first section of a four-phase roadworks scheme meant the the proposed estate at Park Farm, off Smithies Lane, would be “detrimental to highway safety” The site, which is within the Ponderosa Park complex and comprises of a number of industrial buildings, greenhouses and other buildings, last came before committee in August 2018 but dates back to 2015. Highways staff told the Heavy Woollen Planning Sub-Committee (Apr 14) that work on Phase 1 had begun but not had not been completed. Workmanship was described as “incorrect” and not to standard, meaning the road could not be adopted by the council.
THE owner of an 18th century pub with connections to the Luddites has been refused permission to pull it down to make way for housing. The Shears Inn at Hightown in Liversedge, a meeting place during the Luddite rebellion in 1812, was described as a “spectacularly important” piece of local history. Owner Andrew Mitchell said the pub on the A649 Halifax Road, was no longer viable. He applied to Kirklees Council to bulldoze the building and to replace it with four houses. The proposed scheme proved hugely controversial, and the Council received 433 objections to the application. The application was refused on Tuesday, but Mr Mitchell said there seemed to be little local interest in any locals taking on the pub.