Plans for Eruv in leafy suburb approved

Councillors have approved plans to erect a series of poles to create an area in Hale and Hale Barns where orthodox Jews can move freely on the sabbath - known as an Eruv. The 52 street poles will now appear at 26 individual sites in an area so that young and elderly members of the orthodox community can move around.

They are restricted to their homes by Jewish law, unable push wheelchairs, prams, walking frames, carrying keys or medication freely between public and private areas between sunset on Fridays until nightfall on Saturdays, known as Shabbat. An area encompassed by Hale Road and Grove Lane to the north; Shay Lane and Burnside to the east; Bankhall Lane and Rappax Road to the south and Ashley Road to the west is where the 52 poles, each between 22 ft and 26 ft high will now appear.

Tafford’s planning committee gave the plan the go-ahead despite objections from more than 900 local residents. The poles will be placed either side of road junctions and connected by filament fibre cables.

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Members of the committee were told that the creation of an Eruv did not require planning permission, only the physical infrastructure such as the poles and wires. Two of the sites are in Green Belt, but councillors heard officers believed the application demonstrated ‘very special circumstances that overcome the harm by reason of inappropriateness’. Some of the sites are in local conservation areas.

Six members of the public, split equally between those in favour and those against, addressed the committee. One of those against was neighbour Mark Guterman, himself Jewish and a member of a local synagogue.

He said that in the 936-name petition and letters objecting to the proposal a ‘large amount’ had come from within the Jewish community. “The wider Jewish community do not want this proposal now with the heightened tensions in the Middle East and anti-Semitism on the rise,” he said.

“A small group of vigilantes are fronting Hale synagogue and this has made life much more uncomfortable for the Jews that live in the area and it is destroying years of interfaith work, but for what purpose?

“We’ve been advised by the proposers that seven or eight members of the Hale community would use the Eruv. We would not be opposed to this if there was a demand for the Eruv - [for example] a couple of hundred people, but there is no need for it at the moment.”

Speaking in favour of the application, Rabbi Yisroel Binstock of the Hale synagogue said that he saw first-hand ‘how beneficial’ an Eruv would be, particularly for ‘our most vulnerable members’. “Without an Eruv, any member of the Jewish community who are unable to walk unaided and rely on a wheelchair, walking stick or buggy, face a decision as to whether they choose to compromise on sacred Shabbat observance or remain isolated at the most important time of the week,” he said.

“With an Eruv, they are able to participate in religious and social life.” He said he moved to Hale five years ago from London and said it had been a ‘beautiful place’ for he and his to raise their family.

Rabbi Binstock went on: “I can understand why people might be concerned that an Eruv could negatively affect Hale. I am here to reassure you that we appreciate the beauty of the neighbourhood and we are not looking to change it.”

However, Coun Balil Babar said the ‘massive number’ of objections or comments the council had received could not be ignored. Along with Coun Meena Minnis, he suggested that the decision be deferred for further consultations in the community.

Chair of the committee Coun Barry Winstanley argued that while the idea of a deferral was ‘attractive’ the planning application was ‘only part of an overall process’. “There will be opportunities later on, if we approve it,” he said, “for further discussions to take place.”

Coun Phil Eckersley said he had ‘concerns’ about the Eruv application. “I believe we are here to make decisions in the best interests of our entire community,” he said.

“While I respect the applicant’s intentions, I believe this proposal would cause more harm than good. There will be 52 poles up to eight metres high connected by wires across Hale and Hale Barns.

"It’s not just street furniture. It’s a significant alteration to our streetscape, especially in our conservation areas and near listed buildings.”

Coun Michael Taylor, whose ward is Hale Barns, echoed Coun Eckersley’s argument saying: “Hundreds of residents have written in to oppose this application and as the local councillor I cannot support this. I think more street furniture is not what we need and I think it would set a precedent for others to put more street furniture on the streets.”

But Coun Tony O’Brien that the Eruv was a ‘symbolic concept’. “It’s only of relevance to those who choose to observe the Shabbat,” he said. “It doesn’t impact on those of other or no faith who share the neighbourhood.

“The Eruv doesn’t require planning permission - it’s just the physical aspect of, so I propose we approve it.” Coun Mike Cordingley agreed: “I don’t think we’re here to judge the rights and wrongs of an Eruv as a religious construct. It’s whether the erection of these poles and wires actually get in the way of planning permission.

“I don’t want - as a planning committee representative - to be choosing between different religions. It just a collection of poles and wires. It doesn’t create traffic problems and that is the end of the story.”

After a long debate, the committee voted in favour of approving the plans, with three councillors voting against.