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Leeds: School's new offer in planning row
LEEDS Girls High School has offered to hand over a garden for use as a public park - but only if controversial planning applications are approved.
The Headingley school has also said it will only provide a 10-year licence for the garden at Ford House, a move described as "totally inadequate".
A public meeting will be held on Monday to discuss the idea for the garden, as well as changes to the original planning application from July 2008.
A massive row erupted when the school unveiled plans to build houses and flats on the land, with the scheme attracting 4,459 letters of objection.
Now, along with other changes, the school has agreed to hand over the Ford House garden for public use, granting a 10-year licence with a five-year break provision – if the planning applications are approved by Leeds City Council.
A letter sent to residents and seen by the YEP reads: "In order to recognise the aspirations of the local community and subject to the grant of planning permission for the main school site on all of the current applications, the school will grant a licence to allow public use of Ford House Garden.
"I trust you will be able to accept this arrangement as a genuine offer to provide this community benefit."
According to the plans, Leeds Girls High School would also be responsible for "public liability arising from the public use of the site".
But several objectors have already criticised the idea, including community group leaders and Coun Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem; Headingley).
He said: "What use is a public park if it is only available for ten years? This is totally inadequate, particularly since the proposals already involve building on tennis courts. Our area needs more green space, not less."
As reported in the YEP, the school recently withdrew a separate application to re-develop the playing field and sports centre at Victoria Road, as part of discussions over the "the possibility of a viable local community interest for the facility".
The buildings in Headingley have stood empty since summer 2008 when the school moved to the Leeds Grammar School site in Alwoodley.
The six applications submitted for the original scheme attracted opposition from Greg Mulholland MP and seven community groups in the area.
Councillors are expected to consider the revised proposals early next year.
* Monday's meeting will be held from 7pm until 9pm at City Church on Headingley Lane.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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