Denby Dale Bridleway 102 Langley Lane

Here we go again! This planning application at Emley Lodge Farm is for the first of an anticipated 4 dwellings. The site is accessed along over 900m of public rights of way. Nearly all of that is on the narrow unmade bridleway Denby Dale 102,Langley Lane and then a short section of Denby Dale Footpath 102. Four new properties equates to the best part of 4,000 new vehicular journeys per year on this unmade bridleway according to the government’s National Travel Survey

That’s quite significant by anyone’s standards and is bound to have a negative effect on the public bridleways surface condition, which is already suffering, and of course it will inevitably lead to conflict with public users of the bridleway. As you can see from the photo above the bridleway is essentially an unmade lane giving access to agricultural land. It is narrow and bounded by hedges making it impossible for two vehicles to pass let alone a vehicle and horse to pass each other. Clearly it was never built to carry modern motor vehicles.

Regular readers will not be surprised to learn that the application drawn up by a professional firm makes no mention of the fact that the site is accessed by Denby Dale Bridleway 102 which is described only as an “unmade access”. Because this essential fact is ignored the application is defective as public rights of way are a material consideration in the planning process. The Council cannot therefore properly consider the application, if it does it’s job properly.(I know big IF that one).

I believe there are good grounds to object to this proposal because the applicant has completely overlooked the access problems and not properly considered the effects on Denby Dale Bridleway 102. Furthermore the Council should refuse the application because the intensification of motor traffic is incompatible with the lanes bridleway status,there is nowhere for riders to pass a vehicle,the surface will be damaged by vehicles and of course the lane is used by many walkers and cyclists who’s enjoyment of the  amenity would be negatively impacted by the development.

The bigger picture of course is one of intense pressure on the Kirklees rights of way network from development and in particular the effects on bridleways which are a very scarce resource to start with. I don’t think we can afford to damage or lose anymore.

Comments are open until 2nd November 2017

                                               Here is Langley Lane