Ball rolling on development?
A CONTROVERSIAL application for access to a proposed residential development on the site of Hemsworth Sports Complex has been approved.
But work cannot start on the Kirkby Road site until a section 106 legal agreement has been finalised and Sport England is happy with the replacement football facilities on Sandygate Lane.
Wakefield Council's planning committee approved the plans in principal on Thursday but delegated authority to Ian Thomson, the council's service director for planning, to issue the decision once a number of conditions have been met.
Independent councillor Ian Womersley said the decision was a victory for those who had objected to the plans, which he said cannot move forward until the developers "put right the mess they have made".
But Hemsworth Town Council clerk Tina Pattison said: "We are pleased with the decision of Wakefield Council and that we are now moving forward."
The complex was sold to Saul Construction by the town council in order to fund a new community hall on Bullenshaw Road and the replacement sports facility on Sandygate.
Saul Construction plans to build a residential development on the complex site and was initially granted permission for access in 2008, subject to the section 106 being agreed.
But the agreement has still not been signed despite the community hall and football facility being almost completed.
Sport England - an organisation that must be consulted about planning applications affecting playing fields - submitted an objection to the housing plans but have agreed to withdraw it once a number of remedial works have been carried out to bring the Sandygate facility up to the body's standards.
The additional works include providing a mini pitch, re-marking out smaller pitches on the artificial grass pitch, providing space to serve refreshments and having the site's drainage and pitches surveyed for compliance.
Once Sport England, the developer and the council are satisfied, Mr Thomson will be able to issue the approval without it having to go back to the planning committee.
Coun Womersley said: "The decision cannot be issued until the section 106 has been sorted and Sport England is happy everything has been put right.
"As far as I am concerned it is a victory for us. The developer cannot lay a brick until we have sports facilities equal to or better than the ones we had."
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Weather for Wakefield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 24 C
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Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
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Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
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