Update February 2021

~ daviddowden ~ Leave a comment

Greenside Greenway Community Group have now received phase 1 Feasibility Study report commissioned by Sustrans.

This details the practicalities and benefits of constructing a Greenway route utilising Greenside Tunnel and Tyersal Embankment. 

The report also includes description of other proposed phases linking to nearby Spen Valley Greenway, and in the opposite direction to Lowtown and Stanningley Leeds Cycleway.

We are in the process of consulting with Stakeholders and intend to launch the report in Spring 2021.

We would like to thank all our supporters who contributed to the fundraising of this study and who also objected to the full Infill of the Greenside rail cutting.

For more information of this project see the links below:

 Follow us on Facebook: @GreensideGreenway

 Follow us on Twitter: @greensidegreen    

Email us: greensidegreenway@gmail.com      

Greenside Greenway object to new planning application

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

The developers building houses on the site adjoining the railway cutting leading to the Greenside Tunnel have submitted a new planning application to build two semi detatched houses instead of the previously approved single detached house.

Greenside Greenway have submitted an objection on the grounds that this would make the use of the cutting for a greenway more difficult in the future, and we suspect that the original partial infill of material has not been performed as per in the original approval.

Please see below for a link to the planning application where you can comment if you so wish, and our detailed objection.

Link to planning application

The Greenside Greenway group is proposing that the old Pudsey Loop Railway Line is repurposed as a greenway for pedestrians, wheelchair users, runners, cyclists, and horse riders. We are imminently expecting the publishing of a feasibility study by Sustrans that we commissioned earlier this year.

The proposed route runs through the Greenside Tunnel and continues through the cutting that adjoins the site in question. An earlier planning application (17/02642/FU) approved the partial infill of inert material into the cutting. Members of the Greenside Greenway group opposed that planning application as it had the potential to make the development of the greenway more difficult.

The plans for the greenway have continued even after the partial infill of material as both ourselves and experts consider the partial tipping reversible. The inert material could be redistributed to other parts of the route that require elevating, thus restoring the original profile of the cutting.

It should be noted that the original planning application for 8 dwellings on the site (16/04825/FU) was approved prior to that of the partial infill. As such, the dwellings as built to these plans would be unaffected if the partial infill was removed.

We note the current application (20/05470/FU) for two semi-detached houses in place of one detached house in the original application. In principle, we have no objection to this change, however upon examination of the plans, it appears that the footprint and curtilage of the semi-detached houses extends further into the cutting than that of the original detached house. This would indicate that there is now more land available than when the original planning application for the dwellings was submitted.

We also note the original proposed layout plan that was approved in the partial infill application (17/02642/FU). This shows the location of the infill material in the centre of the cutting, with none added to the sloping area next to Carlisle Road and the dwelling site location.

We therefore request that the planning application is refused for the following reasons:

  • The only way land is now available for two houses rather than one, is because the partial infill planning permission has been breached. The inert material has not been placed as indicated in the prior planning application.
  • Allowing the building of an additional house on material that has been tipped into the cutting would prejudice removal of that material at a later date, and thus prejudice the development of the greenway.
  • Although not civil engineers, we do not think that recently tipped material is a stable foundation for a house.

Visit with Tong councillors

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

Last week, David, Martin, and Gary from the Greenside Greenway group met with Tong councillors Kausar Mukhtar and Alan Wainwright to show them the proposed route of the Greenway.

While the greenway will sit predominantly in the Pudsey ward, routes that connect to it will pass through the Tong ward.

Both Alan and Kausar were enthusiastic about the scheme and the potential links and benefits it could bring to people in the communities they represent.

Campaign Update – May 2020

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

In these unprecedented times, some good news can work wonders, so here it is!

On 9th March, the Greenside Greenway group held our AGM at the Royal in Pudsey. Over 40 people packed into the top room to hear updates on the project and our plans for the upcoming year.

Main highlights from the past year have been:

  • Regular litter picks along the proposed route. These will continue once lockdown regulations allow.
  • The developer applied for full infill of the railway cutting, which we vehemently opposed and campaigned against. Earlier in the year we heard that planning permission had been rejected.
  • And finally, news that we had raised the required sum (approximately £10,000) for the feasibility study, and were in the process of instructing Sustrans to begin. The first official site meeting being on 12th March 2020.

The meeting also agreed to re-elect existing committee members and roles and formally elect Gary Lemal as Vice Chair , and Lee Carter and Chris Dunford Kelk as committee members. Martin Stanley was elected as Secretary as David Dowden stood down from this position. We are also looking for any new members who can be of assistance and We also sought two auditors for the accounts and both Tim Devereux and Mark Sewards were elected for this role.

Future plans include:

  • A proposal to apply for Charitable Status. Gary Lemal introduced this item and explained the reasons behind the proposal., which will also entail the election of Trustees. The proposal was voted on and accepted.

Thanks:

We thanked in particular The Squeaker for the two-page report from which a lot of fundraising was generated. The Fleece and Sunbeam Brewery for their drinkable contribution, and major fundraiser pledges to the feasibility study costs from The Historical Railway Estate (HRE), Leeds City Council, and Bradford Metropolitan District Council.

Guest Speaker Cllr Peter Carlill, who is the lead member for LCC on Sustainable Travel then gave us a brief update on the sustainable ambitions of the council. Peter then took a number of varied questions before we brought the meeting to a close.

Finally, we would also like to thank the Royal Public House who again provided the meeting room and facilities for this event.

Annual General Meeting 2020

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

MONDAY 9th MARCH 2020, 7.30pm.

Venue: THE ROYAL HOTEL, STATION STREET  PUDSEY 

This is a public meeting and all are welcome to attend.

Among the business to be conducted, the AGM will:

  • consider reports from existing Committee members: Chair; Treasurer; Publicity officer. This will included detailed updates on all our activities this year.
  • Proposal to apply for charity status and elect Trustees.
  • Elect Trustees / Committee members for 2020-21.
  • Consider and agree new constitution

Officers/Trustee positions are Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Officer, Membership Secretary.

Additionally there are vacancies other Committee members who may fill specialised roles.

Post AGM activities

Further activities are scheduled following the AGM and we hope you will be able to stay for a drink.

– Invited speakers, including Cllr Peter Carlill, Lead Member for Active Travel for Leeds City Council and member of The Combined Authority

Full Infill Planning Permission Refused

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

This weekend saw a big step forward in our plans for the Greenside Greenway. The full infill application, that would have scuppered the whole project, was refused by Leeds City Council.

The two official documents outlining the reasons for refusal can be found at the links below.

Officer Report

Refusal of Planning Permission

Despite the good news, it is important to remember that this decision can still be appealed, and that the application was refused because it did not adhere to council planning policies, not because the council are supporting the greenway.

We still have work to do.

 

Please object to the building of a new road in the Tong and Fulneck Valley

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

Please support our friends at Save Tong and Fulneck Valley and object to Bradford Council’s plan to build a road across the Tong and Fulneck Valley, which in turn will allow them build houses and industrial units.

In our view this will destroy Black Carr Woods and precious greenbelt.

A document is linked below. Please print it off, sign, and send to the address on the front page or drop off at the collection point at the BankHouse Pub. It is also possible to email the form to planning.policy@bradford.gov.uk

Click here to download the document

Please be quick, the deadline is Tuesday, 24th September.

More litter picks

~ Greenside Greenway ~ Leave a comment

We have scheduled another three litter picks.

All will take place at 10am on the following dates.

28th Sept – Crimbles Place, Lowtown
26th Oct – Crawshaw Road nr. Zebra Crossing
30th Nov – Fox & Grapes

Please wear gloves and bring any litter pickers if you have them.