Welcome to the website of the Better Wetherby Partnership.
In 2018, several local organisations and residents in the Wetherby area came together to form a new Partnership under the banner of Better Wetherby (BW). We are a consortium of local people from a variety of organisations who contribute to initiatives designed to help make Wetherby and the surrounding villages better for the community of both current and future generations.
A current concern is the negative impact on Wetherby and the local environment resulting from large-scale house building. Our aim is to ensure that all new developments respect the community-led sense of place we currently enjoy, whilst contributing positively towards the local economy, character and scale of our historic and attractive market town. BW is not a NIMBY lobby group, it is also non-political. The organisation accepts that some new housing, particularly more ‘affordable’ and reasonably costed new properties, especially for young people, will be needed in Wetherby over the coming years. The principal aim of BW is to ensure that future house building is done in a considerate and carefully managed way so that the character of the town and environment is protected for future generations. In this respect, BW strives to ensure that future new homes are developed in a considered, responsible way, taking into account the need for measures addressing the climate emergency and protecting the environment.
See About Us for further details
CONTACT INFORMATION
We welcome further volunteers and supporters to assist our endeavours. Please contact us with any comments and queries. If you wish to be included on our mailing list please send a request by email to betterwetherby@gmail.com.
In 2018, several local organisations and residents in the Wetherby area came together to form a new Partnership under the banner of Better Wetherby (BW). We are a consortium of local people from a variety of organisations who contribute to initiatives designed to help make Wetherby and the surrounding villages better for the community of both current and future generations.
A current concern is the negative impact on Wetherby and the local environment resulting from large-scale house building. Our aim is to ensure that all new developments respect the community-led sense of place we currently enjoy, whilst contributing positively towards the local economy, character and scale of our historic and attractive market town. BW is not a NIMBY lobby group, it is also non-political. The organisation accepts that some new housing, particularly more ‘affordable’ and reasonably costed new properties, especially for young people, will be needed in Wetherby over the coming years. The principal aim of BW is to ensure that future house building is done in a considerate and carefully managed way so that the character of the town and environment is protected for future generations. In this respect, BW strives to ensure that future new homes are developed in a considered, responsible way, taking into account the need for measures addressing the climate emergency and protecting the environment.
See About Us for further details
CONTACT INFORMATION
We welcome further volunteers and supporters to assist our endeavours. Please contact us with any comments and queries. If you wish to be included on our mailing list please send a request by email to betterwetherby@gmail.com.
Latest Updates
March 2021.
- Updated Racecourse Approach (Swinnow Park) page
- Updated Links page - please contact us if you want to link your page
- Latest Newsletter distributed (4-Mar) + Press Release (5-Mar)
- Added Transport consultation information (3-Mar)
LEEDS TRANSPORT STRATEGY CONSULTATION
We would urge you to review/comment on the Transport Strategy for Leeds, which follows the declaration of a climate emergency by LCC in March 2019. The vision is for Leeds to be an area where you do not need a car, with the ambition towards Leeds becoming a net zero city by 2030. However there is no provision for improved public transport to/from Wetherby, despite plans for a dramatic increase in housing. See our transport page for more information.
Secretary/Treasurer
BWP need to fill both positions and we would love to hear from anyone who wishes to join us or even existing members wishing to take a more active role. As the Treasurer role does hold responsibility for filing accounts and other duties, BWP may be able to pay a small stipend. However, as we need to make the most of our limited funds, clearly we prefer a volunteer! If you feel you can help, please contact us.
Safeguarding the gains from the Stockeld Inquiry decision
As our motto states, BWP is committed to promoting and protecting our town's future. In this respect, it is important to ensure that a planning condition imposed on Bellways housing scheme off Spofforth Hill requiring the planting of a major tree belt on the western edge of their new estate, is completed. This tree belt, allied to an existing spinney of trees on most of the remaining western boundary, is aimed at ensuring that there will be minimal visibility of Bellways new development over the very attractive rolling agricultural landscape on this gateway entrance into our town.
In dismissing Stockeld Park Estate's appeal to build 210 houses on a large part of this landscape, the Inspector noted that 'the proposals would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.' He went on to state that he gave full weight to the conflict of the proposed housing with Harrogate Borough Council's Local Plan policy to protect the landscape of the district.
The best way to appreciate this western landscape setting of Wetherby and Kirk Deighton is by walking and cycling along the two bridleways and Harland Way that traverse in all directions across it. This has become even more important during these torrid pandemic times. To this end, BWP is mindful of the need to improve signage and good maintenance on these routes.
We are therefore in contact with the range of organisations and authorities having a responsibility or interest in looking after these routes. As has been noted from the outset of BWP, our local authority shared boundary characteristic makes the simplest of tasks far from straight forward. However, we will continue our efforts and will keep you in the picture on the outcome of these continuing discussions, in particular with Leeds City Council, Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
URGENT APPEAL
Better Wetherby needs financial support to pay for expert consultants and generally fund our wider efforts on behalf of the local community. Public support is essential to increase the chance of success and help protect our community. Please see Donations page for further details.
Racecourse Approach - Plans Panel meeting 6th August summary
This application by Taylor Wimpey (TW) to build a development of 800 houses on the outskirts of Wetherby has been in the planning system for around 3 years. It has received consistent and strong opposition from BW and many local people and subject to scrutiny in several hearings by Leeds City Council Plans Panel (meeting of Councillors). At a previous Plans Panel meeting, the application was approved subject to a number of conditions being met, including a key issue of ensuring that an access point was secured onto York Road on the south-western corner of the site.
In recent months representatives of TW have engaged in negotiations to purchase land to secure the necessary access point. As they have been unable to reach an agreement with the landowner, TW requested that this specific condition be removed and gave Notice of Appeal should their request not be granted. Leeds Planning Officers reported that they supported the removal of the condition, maintaining that other access points from Racecourse Approach would be acceptable.
At a lengthy meeting of the Plans Panel on 6th August, BW spokesperson, Ward Councillor Alan Lamb, pointed out that to allow the removal of the condition would be in direct conflict with the approved Leeds Site Allocation Plan (SAP). This would call into question the relevance of the SAP and undermine the whole ethos of the National Planning process. Councillor Lamb said that BW accepted that a development would take place on this site, as it was allocated in the Leeds SAP. However, as it would bring huge change to Wetherby, the biggest change for over 50 years, it was important to get things right. He maintained that the application in its current form was not right for Wetherby and asked that the application be rejected. Peter Catton, speaking on behalf of Wetherby Civic Society, also opposed the application. He contended that it failed to meet the requirements of the Leeds SAP, the National Planning Framework and the Wetherby Neighbourhood Plan.
Mark Johnson, representing TW, also addressed the Panel. He maintained that the removal of the condition was compliant with the SAP and that TW would be pressing ahead irrespective of the Panel’s decision. He confirmed that a notice of appeal was in the system. Mr. Johnson said that TW was hopeful that the design stage would be the time for consultation and engagement with those who were critical of the development.
Several members of the Panel expressed serious concerns about the application. However, in spite of those reservations there was a majority vote of 8 – 5 in favour of removing the condition about the access point and allowing the application to progress to the next phase in the planning process, that of the detailed design stage.
Whilst the outcome is a disappointment, it is the view of BW that it also presents an opportunity. It is accepted that a development on this site will take place, probably over a period of several years. Therefore the aim of BW is now to ensure that this becomes an exemplar housing development. BW is fully prepared to reach out and engage in a positive way with TW and Leeds Planning Officers to offer our views and advice during the detailed design phase. Local people can be assured that BW will be continuing our efforts, using the means at our disposal, to ensure that we achieve the best possible outcome for our town.
A full recording of the Plans Panel meeting is available here
Previous News
Better Wetherby regularly send out newsletters to all our contacts - please drop us an email if you wish to receive all future newsletters and be added to our contact list.
A full list of Press Releases and Newsletters are available.
We have also added a page with links to news articles related to our work.
We also have an 'archive' page showing previous 'news' updates.
Many thanks to all our supporters for their comments, we have collated a few here. Thanks also to CPRE for their recent article and ongoing support.
We would urge you to review/comment on the Transport Strategy for Leeds, which follows the declaration of a climate emergency by LCC in March 2019. The vision is for Leeds to be an area where you do not need a car, with the ambition towards Leeds becoming a net zero city by 2030. However there is no provision for improved public transport to/from Wetherby, despite plans for a dramatic increase in housing. See our transport page for more information.
Secretary/Treasurer
BWP need to fill both positions and we would love to hear from anyone who wishes to join us or even existing members wishing to take a more active role. As the Treasurer role does hold responsibility for filing accounts and other duties, BWP may be able to pay a small stipend. However, as we need to make the most of our limited funds, clearly we prefer a volunteer! If you feel you can help, please contact us.
Safeguarding the gains from the Stockeld Inquiry decision
As our motto states, BWP is committed to promoting and protecting our town's future. In this respect, it is important to ensure that a planning condition imposed on Bellways housing scheme off Spofforth Hill requiring the planting of a major tree belt on the western edge of their new estate, is completed. This tree belt, allied to an existing spinney of trees on most of the remaining western boundary, is aimed at ensuring that there will be minimal visibility of Bellways new development over the very attractive rolling agricultural landscape on this gateway entrance into our town.
In dismissing Stockeld Park Estate's appeal to build 210 houses on a large part of this landscape, the Inspector noted that 'the proposals would have a harmful effect on the character and appearance of the surrounding area.' He went on to state that he gave full weight to the conflict of the proposed housing with Harrogate Borough Council's Local Plan policy to protect the landscape of the district.
The best way to appreciate this western landscape setting of Wetherby and Kirk Deighton is by walking and cycling along the two bridleways and Harland Way that traverse in all directions across it. This has become even more important during these torrid pandemic times. To this end, BWP is mindful of the need to improve signage and good maintenance on these routes.
We are therefore in contact with the range of organisations and authorities having a responsibility or interest in looking after these routes. As has been noted from the outset of BWP, our local authority shared boundary characteristic makes the simplest of tasks far from straight forward. However, we will continue our efforts and will keep you in the picture on the outcome of these continuing discussions, in particular with Leeds City Council, Harrogate Borough Council and North Yorkshire County Council.
URGENT APPEAL
Better Wetherby needs financial support to pay for expert consultants and generally fund our wider efforts on behalf of the local community. Public support is essential to increase the chance of success and help protect our community. Please see Donations page for further details.
Racecourse Approach - Plans Panel meeting 6th August summary
This application by Taylor Wimpey (TW) to build a development of 800 houses on the outskirts of Wetherby has been in the planning system for around 3 years. It has received consistent and strong opposition from BW and many local people and subject to scrutiny in several hearings by Leeds City Council Plans Panel (meeting of Councillors). At a previous Plans Panel meeting, the application was approved subject to a number of conditions being met, including a key issue of ensuring that an access point was secured onto York Road on the south-western corner of the site.
In recent months representatives of TW have engaged in negotiations to purchase land to secure the necessary access point. As they have been unable to reach an agreement with the landowner, TW requested that this specific condition be removed and gave Notice of Appeal should their request not be granted. Leeds Planning Officers reported that they supported the removal of the condition, maintaining that other access points from Racecourse Approach would be acceptable.
At a lengthy meeting of the Plans Panel on 6th August, BW spokesperson, Ward Councillor Alan Lamb, pointed out that to allow the removal of the condition would be in direct conflict with the approved Leeds Site Allocation Plan (SAP). This would call into question the relevance of the SAP and undermine the whole ethos of the National Planning process. Councillor Lamb said that BW accepted that a development would take place on this site, as it was allocated in the Leeds SAP. However, as it would bring huge change to Wetherby, the biggest change for over 50 years, it was important to get things right. He maintained that the application in its current form was not right for Wetherby and asked that the application be rejected. Peter Catton, speaking on behalf of Wetherby Civic Society, also opposed the application. He contended that it failed to meet the requirements of the Leeds SAP, the National Planning Framework and the Wetherby Neighbourhood Plan.
Mark Johnson, representing TW, also addressed the Panel. He maintained that the removal of the condition was compliant with the SAP and that TW would be pressing ahead irrespective of the Panel’s decision. He confirmed that a notice of appeal was in the system. Mr. Johnson said that TW was hopeful that the design stage would be the time for consultation and engagement with those who were critical of the development.
Several members of the Panel expressed serious concerns about the application. However, in spite of those reservations there was a majority vote of 8 – 5 in favour of removing the condition about the access point and allowing the application to progress to the next phase in the planning process, that of the detailed design stage.
Whilst the outcome is a disappointment, it is the view of BW that it also presents an opportunity. It is accepted that a development on this site will take place, probably over a period of several years. Therefore the aim of BW is now to ensure that this becomes an exemplar housing development. BW is fully prepared to reach out and engage in a positive way with TW and Leeds Planning Officers to offer our views and advice during the detailed design phase. Local people can be assured that BW will be continuing our efforts, using the means at our disposal, to ensure that we achieve the best possible outcome for our town.
A full recording of the Plans Panel meeting is available here
Previous News
Better Wetherby regularly send out newsletters to all our contacts - please drop us an email if you wish to receive all future newsletters and be added to our contact list.
A full list of Press Releases and Newsletters are available.
We have also added a page with links to news articles related to our work.
We also have an 'archive' page showing previous 'news' updates.
Many thanks to all our supporters for their comments, we have collated a few here. Thanks also to CPRE for their recent article and ongoing support.
