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Crowds object to 'blot on the landscape'

Jo Rostron
31/ 8/2005

PRESSURE is mounting on councillors to reject plans for a 24-hour printing works behind homes on Gloucester Avenue.

A campaign by a group of local residents is gaining momentum and last week they staged a meeting attended by over 70 people to make sure their voices are heard.

They are up in arms over a planning application by Peel Holdings to build a production unit and office space - totalling 91,000 square feet - on Hareshill Business Park.

They argue that the site behind Yearsley's is too close to their homes and would create excessive noise, block out their light and be a blot on the landscape.

Although no date has yet been set for the application to be considered, objectors are not leaving anything to chance and were out pounding the streets delivering leaflets outlining their protest the day before the meeting at the market's Magic Suite last week.

Elaine Harrison, who lives on Gloucester Avenue, explained that their campaign had become a real group effort with even the youngsters on the street volunteering to distribute the flyers she produced.

And she said she was delighted with the turnout at the meeting.

"I couldn't believe the number of people there and I didn't recognise quite a few of the faces so they must have come from surrounding streets as well.

"Everyone wanted to say their piece and there is certainly very strong feeling about this. We are all determined to fight it."

The idea of the meeting was to collate the views of anybody with an interest as when it is considered by the Township Planning Sub Committee only one objector will be allowed to speak.

Selected for that role is Louis Henry of Oldbury Close. Having spoken out against plans for the equestrian centre and giant landfill site on Hareshill road he has become somewhat of a local campaigner.

Mrs Harrison said she was pleased he had offered his services.

"He can get our points across articulately without becoming emotionally involved or getting upset in the way that I would," she added.