Woodland protest walk in Leeds over 300 homes plan

Campaigners fighting against plans to build nearly 300 homes in a village 'beauty spot' are organising a protest walk.

Members of West Ardsley Action Group (WAAG) will hold the demonstration in the village’s Haigh Moor Wood, where proposals for 299 homes off Westerton Road and Haigh Moor Road have been lodged.

Opposition to the plans has grown since the group started its campaign, and 2,400 objections have now been submitted against the proposals.

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The woodland walk on May 12 will be the latest protest staged by WAAG, after about 100 people held a peaceful procession in February.

Peter Cowling, chairman of WAGG, said: “This event is the perfect way to showcase our prized green asset at the heart of the West Ardsley community. The Save Haigh Wood campaign has awakened this community, it has surpassed all of our expectations and continues to gain momentum.”

A decision on the proposals by West Ardsley Development Consortium has been extended by Leeds City Council until July.

“This proposed development is totally unnecessary, unwelcome and unsustainable,” Mr Cowling added.

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“It will devastate the local environment and have a detrimental effect on the quality of life of existing residents.”

A planning statement, by Walker Morris on behalf of the applicant, said the development would provide 299 homes and “significant improvements to the landscape and management of the central wooded valley”.

The walk takes place at 10am on Saturday, May 12 after gathering at the Hare and Hounds pub in Batley Road.

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