A BRADFORD MP has formally objected to the new Interchange 26 industrial park near Cleckheaton due to the impact on residents in her constituency.

Judith Cummins, MP for Bradford South, has written to the chief executive of Kirklees Council over the current plans for the site which she says will have "a negative impact on the lives of her constituents" in Lower Woodlands and Oakenshaw.

She states that “the access roads and junctions are not suitable for a development of this size and the mitigation works proposed are not sufficient to overcome my concerns".

The new park is being developed by Opus North and Tungsten Properties and is at the former North Bierley Waster Treatment Works in Oakenshaw.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: An aerial view of the former North Bierley waste water treatment site near the M606 and M62An aerial view of the former North Bierley waste water treatment site near the M606 and M62 (Image: Keyland Developments)

In particular, she points to Cliff Hollins Road and Mill Carr Hill Road as country lanes which are not suitable for carrying Heavy Goods Vehicles.

Mill Carr Hill Road is already marked as unsuitable for large vehicles. She said the entry and exit for the site is planned to be from Mill Carr Hill Road onto Bradford Road. Turning right from Bradford Road into Mill Carr Hill Road is extremely hazardous and is not suitable for HGVs.

The MP also raised concerns about the impact of the development on Woodlands Primary School, including traffic and air quality.

She added: “As currently planned this development will have negative consequences for my constituents living in Lower Woodlands and Oakenshaw. Routing HGVs through unsuitable roads near residential properties is unacceptable. I am also concerned about pollution and traffic near Woodlands School. I have told Kirklees Council that I would consider withdrawing my objections if more suitable access is proposed. Until then I will continue to oppose these plans on behalf of my constituents.”

The planned industrial park, which is set to create 800 jobs as a whole, was bought by Opus North for an undisclosed sum last year from Keyland Developments, the property trading arm of Kelda Group and sister company to Yorkshire Water.

The former owners had already secured outline planning consent from Kirklees Council for a commercial development of around 400,000 sq ft of industrial and employment space.

More recently Tungsten Properties has paid £7.07 million to Opus North for a 10.4 acre section of its Interchange 26 development, and has already lodged detailed plans for its section of the site between the M62 and M606 near Bradford.