Flooding at notorious Mirfield hotspot proves houses should not be built say residents

Kirklees Council closed Hagg Lane and Calder View in Mirfield along with the A637 Barnsley Road in Flockton on Saturday afternoon, and said it was monitoring Steanard Lane, also in Mirfield.

Hagg Lane and Steanard Lane connect with Granny Lane, which borders meadowland earmarked for a 67-home housing estate.

The site has been approved for building by council planners despite regular extreme flooding.

Among those affected is Lynda Auty, whose home on Granny Lane is sandwiched between the River Calder and fields that flood via run-off from the hills.

She said the council asked volunteers with Mirfield Rescue Services to park vehicles at the junction of Hagg Lane and Steanard Lane to prevent access due to floodwater on Saturday afternoon.

At the other side of the floodwater a council workman put up a warning sign.

Said Lynda: “Hagg Lane was absolutely flooded but nobody came and closed the road.

“On Granny Lane it was just relentless coming down from the hills and right through the site where they are hell-bent on building those properties.

“Myself and an elderly neighbour were standing outside all afternoon stopping traffic.

“Another man was out with his son trying to clear the drains.”

She said two council workmen did appear. One set up a warning sign and another arrived with sandbags – but not for Granny Lane.

“A council worker came and looked at the culvert on Hagg Lane. He said it wasn’t blocked but was overflowing as it couldn’t cope with the amount of water.

“Then a young lad put up a cone with a flood warning sign on it, but nothing else. People were still coming through.

“Then two Kirklees wagons turned up. One had sandbags on it but they weren’t for us. Before when I’ve asked for sandbags I’ve been told that we can’t have them because we’re not council house tenants.

“They transferred the sandbags from one vehicle to another. They told us, ‘They’re not for you.’

“We were thinking it was Kirklees to the rescue, but was it heck.

“I couldn’t sleep on Saturday night because of the worry. I just feel I’m not in control of my own home. Other people are.”