VICTORY IN GARDEN STREET BATTLE

Last night I spoke on behalf of Hebden Royd Town Council to a packed meeting - 300 people - on the thorny issue of whether the Garden Street development should go ahead. After more than three hours of discussion the planning committee voted to echo the unanimous objections of HRTC. Well done to the campaigners, well dome to ward councilor Nader Frekri and Planning Committee member Peter Coles who in particular wiped the floor with the oppposition. There will of course now be an appeal - but I reckon the campaigners will be more than up for the battle - whicb isn't about NIMBYISM, but the fact that what we need in Hebden Bridge is more affordable and social housing, not more retail opportunities and exec apartments at a time when the whole economy is about to fall around our ears.....