Crofton Redbeck Motel demolition opposed over 'literary significance'

The demolition of a cafe and motel in West Yorkshire should not go ahead due to its "literary significance", a civic society has said.

Plans to knock down the Redbeck Motel in Crofton to make way for housing were submitted in January by developer Yorkshire Choice Homes.

However, Wakefield Civic Society has objected as the motel is featured in a series of novels by David Peace.

The plans have also been opposed by parish councillors.

The developer's planning application to Wakefield Council has so far received 180 objections, including several highlighting the motel's links to the series of books by Mr Peace, who is originally from West Yorkshire.

His novels are set between 1974 and 1983 and have the Yorkshire Ripper's murders as their backdrop.

Kevin Trickett, Wakefield Civic Society's president, said: "Redbeck figures strongly in the Red Riding Quartet by David Peace, later made into a three-part Channel 4 series.

"This association gives it a recent historical, literary significance and this is likely to increase in the future.

"David Peace, best known for The Damned United, is one of the leading Yorkshire novelists of the past 30 years."

Mr Trickett also raised concerns about the loss of woodland if the application was approved, adding that the motel was a local community asset.

Crofton Parish Council also objected to the housing development proposed for the Redbeck site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

A letter to the council from parish clerk Rebecca Maindonald said: "Having already been subject to development in the recent past, the amenities in Crofton were struggling to deal with additional capacity, which would only get worse.

"There was currently strain on the doctors, schools, dentists and transport links in the village.

"Councillors were also extremely concerned about the loss of jobs, once the Redbeck cafe and motel closed."

The Redbeck was established in 1969 and is open 24 hours a day, however the developer's planning application stated the business was "no longer viable".

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