Green field fight in village continues - Leeds Weekly News 06.07.06

The campaign to save a green field in Meanwood continued last week when councillors again turned down a development on the site. St Chad's Parochial Church Council wants to convert the former St Oswald's Church, in Highbury Mount, into four flats and use some of the land around the building for car parking. But nearby residents say the land is a vital green lung in an urban area and provides a place for children to play. They have applied to the council for the field to be designated a village green. Andrea Oz, representing 84 people who have objected to the development scheme, told the council's West Plans Panel that the campaigners did not object to the change of use of the former church, though they would rather it was maintained as a community facility. But they opposed open space being given over to a car park. She said: "The land around the church is not brownfield, has never been built on and was not part of the original indenture for the church. We would like to see a more sensitive application which respects the views of the community, the green corridor, the village green application and the recent Leeds Unitary Development Plan review calling for greater protection of greenfield sites." The church council had originally asked for permission to build on the entire field but scaled down their plans after opposition from the Highbury Residents' Association. A report to the plans panel said the original planning application had been altered and the latest scheme proposed less encroachment on to the green open space. It said the proposed development was acceptable as the site was within a predominantly residential area and a vacant building would be brought back into use. But panel members said they were not prepared to accept conversion to four flats and suggested the church council should rethink its plans. Coun Colin Campbell, panel chairman, said: "If the conversion was for just three flats there would be less need to encroach on to the green space for car parking. "the site needs developing otherwise it will get worse and could be vandalised." Coun Brian Jennings (Ind, Weetwood) said: "Four flats is too many. This site is crying out for an imaginative development."