The owners of the railway cutting have applied for planning permission for a full infill of the cutting. We are asking all supporters of our group to object to the planning application. You can do this in a number of ways

The easiest way is to visit Leeds Planning Website, click the ‘comment’ tab, and then leave your response (you will have to create an account to do this). The deadline for objections via this method is 13th November 2018.

Alternatively you can write to Planning Services, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8BB. Be sure to include the reference: 18/05570/FU.

If you wish to email, please use planning@leeds.gov.uk Please remember to put the planning reference (18/05570/FU) in the subject line.

We have included some points below that you may wish to use to inform your objection.

• Road Safety–EP homes have stated they expect 3,373 HGV wagons through the town for 52 weeks. Adding return journeys, this means, a total of 6746 trips, nearly one wagon every five minutes, six days a week. No route is specified so wagons could use any street, passing local schools, nurseries, care homes, sheltered housing, etc from all directions. It should also be noted that the type of trucks that will likely be used will be tipper trucks that have a disproportionately poor road safety record.
• Disruption– Noise, dirt, dust, muddy roads, smells, will affect households in the vicinity and along roads through the town for at least a year.
• Destruction– Historical heritage of tunnel, cutting and Carlisle Road bridge, not to mention access through a conservation area, and lack of access to the tunnel for maintenance, inspections and machinery.
• Prevention– of proposed Greenside Greenway and its pending feasibility study. A full infill will stop the reopening of the redundant railway route forever, and deny us and future generations the opportunity of a safe green recreational and commuting route including future links to Leeds and Spen Valley Greenway.
• Ecology-Infill will affect the habitat of the three species of bats who roost and use the area for foraging, Filling Carlisle road bridge to the roof, will also destroy these areas. A small gap in front of the tunnel will affect bat access, as well as repairs.
• Poor record– The applicant have not adhered to all the planning conditions that were placed on the part infill, Leeds city Council have asked them to stop infilling on at least one occasion.