Hebweb news 2006: Holiday "Eco-Park" planned for Colden Hillside

HOLIDAY "ECO-PARK" planned for Colden Hillside

Opposition grows to plans for 30 holiday homes in Green Belt

October 2, 2006

Plans to build 30 holiday homes in green-belt land close to the newly declared Colden Clough Nature Reserve have sparked fury amongst residents of the Blackshawhead and Colden areas near Hebden Bridge

Last week, a handful of houses in the rural neighbourhood received invitations to a meeting called by the developer, Ian Plantagenet, and his planning consultants Dunlop Haywards. Word spread and around 70 people attended the meeting at Colden School on Monday [October 2].

Close questioning at the meeting revealed that the holiday homes would be sold as second homes for upwards of £200,000 each. The proposal would also include car parking for more than 30 cars, a cafeteria and a shop.

The holiday park is planned for the hillside opposite Colden School and overlooking the Colden Valley, with access from the bend on New Shaw Lane.

The planners say that the development would be the first of its kind in the UK and would “provide holiday accommodation in a new and exciting way which seeks to minimise the impact of the development upon the environment by creating a holiday village which is in harmony with the surrounding landscape.”

Residents questioned Mr Plantagenet about why the proposal was called a “holiday ecopark”, particularly in view of the inclusion of car parking.

He told the meeting that the houses would be built into the hillside, but that they had not looked into the possibility for alternative heating or lighting. The houses would be constructed from concrete.

In reply to questions about what the benefits would be for the area, Mr Plantagenet said the scheme would bring in more tourists and that the resort’s shop would provide healthy competition for May’s Farm Shop on Edge Lane.

After the meeting, residents took over the stage to call for a structured campaign against the development. They will meet again on Monday, October 8 at 7pm at Colden School.