The number one priority, on which everything else will depend, is to have the designation of the Open Space which contains our Playing Fields changed from PAS land to Green Belt.  To do this we must lobby Wakefield Council with our requests to have the land status changed.  Unless this bid is successful we will not be in a position to improve the facilities that Lofthouse Colliery Park can accommodate. The NEW Facts Proposed Land Use = PAS (Open Land) "The PAS area comprises 11.48ha of land within Outwood; classed by Council policy as one of the 11 urban areas in the District where most new development should be accommodated and an area in which there is a high demand for all types of affordable housing.  Should the PAS area be retained as a greenfield site, a neutral economic and minor beneficial social effect is expected, given the site will provide a leisure/recreational facility.  Although no accession data is provided for this site, given its urban location, accessibility is expected to be good". "The site comprises greenfield urban land within the green corridor and with the majority of the site located within a Wakefield Nature Area.  The site also contains a protected species (water vole).  Given the proposed retention of the site as a greenfield site, a major beneficial environmental impact is predicted". This is extracted from page A72/3 from Wakefield MDC - Site Specific Policies and Proposals DPD Initial Sustainability Appraisal Review (Volume 2), at Site Ref. NWS46, Lofthouse Colliery, where the Proposed Land Use is stated as PAS (Open Land).  See B35 for Environmental Site Comments. Download the full Site Specific (Volume 2) report from WMDC. The PREVIOUS Facts Proposed Land Use = Housing "The site will provide land for housing (344 dwellings) in Outwood; classed by Council policy as one of the 11 urban areas in the district where most new development should be accommodated and an area which is in need of all types of affordable housing, mixed tenures, 2 and 3 bed houses to accommodate single people, families and the elderly, bed-sit bungalows and sheltered housing units.  The site has good access to community facilities including employment, a GP surgery, hospital, and primary and secondary education.  The site will create a substantial amount of additional housing and is therefore anticipated to have a major positive social effect and a minor positive economic effect, through increasing spending and economic activity in the local and regional area". "The site is urban and is situated on greenfield land adjacent to a Listed Building and lying within a green corridor and Wakefield Nature Area.  The site contains a protected species (Water Vole) site.  A major adverse environmental effect is anticipated". The Sustainability Appraisal states: Economic Sustainability = Minor Positive Impact Social Sustainability = Major Positive Impact Transport Aspects of Environmental Sustainability = Major Positive Impact Other Aspects of Environmental Sustainability = Major Negative Impact This is extracted from page 37 Wakefield MDC - Site Specific Policies and Proposals DPD, at Site Ref. W7, Former Lofthouse Colliery Site, where the Proposed Land Use is stated as Housing.  See Appendix B page 18 & page 24 for reported impact on the area. Download the full Site Specific Report from WMDC. How can I take ACTION?

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