Anger at planning applications for Leeds Girls' High School site

3.56.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 21st Jul 2008

Local councillors have today expressed their anger and disappointment at the planning applications submitted for the former Leeds Girls' High School site.

The applications involve residential development on the site, including building on the protected playing pitches, but exclude the sports centre, Ford House green space and the Elinor Lupton Centre.

Cllr Martin Hamilton (Lib Dem, Headingley) commented:

"We have made it very clear from the outset that we would only support an application if it fulfilled a number of clear criteria: retaining the Ford House green space as a community park; retaining the sports centre and sports pitch for community and local school use; providing affordable housing for families; ruling out purpose-built student accommodation and ruling out pub uses for the Elinor Lupton centre.

"These applications flout most of these criteria. In particular, green space provision and community access to the sports centre are not included."

Cllr Penny Ewens (Lib Dem, Hyde Park & Woodhouse) said:

"Residents have clearly demonstrated how strongly they feel about this. It is unthinkable that public opinion should be ignored in this way. I realise that there will be planning applications submitted for this site, but we must find something more in accord with local feelings on the issue."

Cllr James Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) added:

"I am deeply disappointed. These applications from the school fly in the face of everything that we as councillors, the Leeds Girls' High School Action Group and local residents have tried to achieve. This is a slap in the face for both the community and the council."