Leisure scheme for disabled kids to create 30 jobs

WHEELY GOOD An artist's impression of the BMX track.

Kirklees Council’s Heavy Woollen planning sub committee granted permission for the track, which is also for able-bodied children, at its meeting last Thursday.

It forms part of a wider scheme in Spen Vale Street, Heckmondwike, which includes a floating cafe, an outdoor classroom, fish production facility and railway carriages to be used for storage, a cycle shop and a museum.

The detailed plans have now been given full planning permission following approval of outline plans in 2009.

Since then, a fishing lake has been constructed.

Now, applicants the Green Business Network can built an aquaponic and fish production facility, the outdoor classroom, the BMX track and the railway carriages.

In a report council officers said the scheme will provide up to 30 jobs as well as training and education.

The report states the scheme will ‘deliver enhanced biodiversity opportunities for the site, deliver sustainable drainage and utilise natural resources to minimise carbon production’, and ‘makes the most of the opportunities to complement and augment the surrounding cycling and pedestrian infrastructure’.

Project manager Graham Wiles said: “We welcome the decision of the committee and we look forward to getting started on the buildings themselves.”