Anger over engineering facility plans at Ainley Top

Cummins Turbo Technologies has submitted a planning application to to develop a manufacturing facility off New Hey Road, just outside of Rastrick.

The application follows a search to identify a site which would allow the business to maintain and strengthen its presence in the area.

However, the proposals have been met with criticism with almost 200 residents signing a petition against the development.

Keith Wood, a resident in Ainley Top Village, said: “We’ve had very little information about the development and we were not made aware of the consultation or I would have gone to it.

“There is strong feeling against this and not one person said they supported the plans. The plans are not offering anything to the area and the area can’t sustain it.

“There is already major traffic problems and they are only going to get worse.”

If approved, 400 jobs would relocate to the new facility from its site in Huddersfield.

Following a public consultation last year, Mark Prior, Huddersfield Turbo Plant Transformation Director said it has amended its original proposals for an 18,600sq metres facility.

“The public consultation provided some useful feedback. We have consequently, sought to address these concerns by amending our proposals, where possible.”