Tong Fulneck Valley Partnership

Our Vision - July 2009

Our Partnership has been established at a time when Bradford Council have made it clear that they are considering the development of substantial new housing in the Tong Fulneck Valley. Partnership members have a common conviction that such development would permanently destroy valuable countryside, and adversely affect local communities and their environment.

In finding common purpose together, we recognise that this is right opportunity not only for opposing housing development, but also for seeking ways of enhancing the Tong Fulneck Valley as an area of farmland and recreation, and of working in sympathy with the vision that Leeds have created in the recent development of their West Leeds Country Park.

A: Protecting the countryside and the local communities

The greenbelt between Leeds and Bradford is unique and valuable, with important historical background. It provides a 'lung' that is vital to both these large urban communities, and it is likely to be a feature that will continue to be greatly valued by future generations. It would be corporate vandalism on a huge scale if it were to be destroyed.

Current traffic congestion problems in the area are immense - particularly for those seeking to access the city centres by road, yet there are no signs of real solutions to this density issue. Further increases in housing provision in the Tong Fulneck Valley would only exacerbate the problem. Tong Lane already copes with unacceptable levels of traffic, including HGV vehicles. Further development would increase this usage.

Holme Wood is a social housing estate that is working hard to find indigenous solutions that would enable it to become a more sustainable community. A widely representative group is currently working to achieve such progress. Any future housing development needs to be in line with the plans and aspirations of this group.

The Tong Fulneck Valley must be looked at in the context of its wider setting and local environment. Politically it is a wedge shaped area of land that is surrounded by countryside under Leeds Council jurisdiction. Leeds have made it clear that they have no intention of building in any of the greenbelt area that borders on the Tong Fulneck Valley - i.e. in Tyersal, Fulneck, Cockersdale or Drighlington. It would be entirely inappropriate for Bradford unilaterally to propose building in an area that is surrounded by the protected land of an adjacent local authority.

Local farmers have struggled to sustain economic viability over the past years, and have had to diversify their focus, and provide a range of alternative commercial strategies - including landfill, livery stabling, farm shop meat sales, etc.

B: Developing new countryside opportunities.

In 1973 Leeds and Bradford Councils began working together on the development of the Tong Cockersdale Management Project. This was an excellent example of how Leeds and Bradford could collaborate together to achieve common goals. For many years this project enabled the whole of the district to benefit from a team committed to improving the local environment. Although this scheme came to an end some years ago, it contained the seeds for healthy future development.

Since 2005 Leeds Council has already spent £150,000 in the development of the West Leeds Country Park, which includes the areas that surround the Tong Valley, including Fulneck and Cockersdale. This highly attractive and important development would greatly benefit from the enhancement of the Tong Valley adjacent to it.

The historic communities of Fulneck and Tong Village offer interesting and untapped recreational opportunities. If these communities, with their fascinating buildings and heritage, were to be seen as two jewels in a larger area of natural beauty and historical significance, this could bring further economic benefit to the area. The initiative of local farmers to diversify their approach would be enhanced by such development and definition and new additional commercial opportunities may emerge for them.

Bradford Council do not currently appear to appreciate this wider appeal value, yet large numbers of people visit the Tong Fulneck district every year. Wise and careful protection of the countryside, and the development of its attractiveness for recreational benefit would help to improve and extend this value.