Wetherby traffic survey for housing fight

Campaigners are starting a traffic survey today (April 23) to gather evidence for their fight against proposed housing developments.
Deighton Road, Wetherby. Pic: GoogleDeighton Road, Wetherby. Pic: Google
Deighton Road, Wetherby. Pic: Google

Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership (WKDCP) is monitoring vehicles along Deighton Road, in Wetherby, 7-9am and 3-6pm, until Friday.

Co chairman Peter Swales said: “Once this survey has been completed, we’ll then be able to forecast what the negative impact could be for the wider area if 120/240 dwellings were to be built on Kings Meadow View, and this information will be crucially important when a planning application is received.

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“Not only will the roads around the estates surrounding Kings Meadow View become busier during peak times with long queues to exit onto Deighton Road, but with more developments in other areas of Wetherby already ongoing, it’s likely that Deighton Road itself will become busier, exacerbating the situation further.”

NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1
NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1

A handful of residents formed the partnership, co-chaired by Peter Swales and Adele Fairburn, after Persimmon Homes and Stockeld Park carried out a pre-application public consultation to build over 120 dwellings on a field beyond Kings Meadow View, near Aire Road and Ainsty Road.

“Over 200 Wetherby and Kirk Deighton residents submitted their objections to the pre-application for planning on this field,” added Mr Swales.

Leeds City Council had earmarked this land to be green belt, which Persimmon Homes and Stockeld Park are currently opposing.

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“Our objective is to work to promote the protection and conservation of countryside between Wetherby and Kirk Deighton.

NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1
NAWN 1804233AM1 Wetherby Traffic Survey. Nigel Ribbons and Jonathan Watmough of the Wetherby and Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership. (1804233AM1

“This field and surrounding countryside forms a natural border defining the northern edge of Wetherby (West Yorkshire) and Kirk Deighton (North Yorkshire) which is important to maintain.”

The group recently objected to an outline application for 210 dwellings put forward by Hallam and Stockeld, for land off Spofforth Road, on the Harrogate Borough Council side of the Wetherby boundary.

“The site was not identified in Harrogate Borough Council’s draft development plan to meet the needs of housing in Harrogate,” added Peter.

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“The development would impose severe pressure on Wetherby infrastructure negatively effecting residents as expressed by Wetherby Town Council and Leeds City Council.”

Wetherby & Kirk Deighton Countryside Partnership is also holding a public meeting on Saturday June 9. A registration process will be announced by the group nearer the time. Contact the group at: [email protected]