Letters to the Editor

This site, being virgin countryside, was originally classified green belt land. It was redesignated as a greenfield site in 2001. In recent times this site has twice been successfully opposed as suitable for development, the last time being at Public Inquiry in 2005. It seems that now the site has been redefined as suitable for development without proper consultation with the people of Otley. How can land that had been defined as unsuitable at a Public Inquiry now be redefined as suitable without another Public Inquiry? How did that process happen? Where was the consultation? The recent Leeds Local Development Framework (LDF) consultation this summer did not permit feedback about proposed development on this site, so our voices were not heard.

As Otley people are aware, we already have a new housing development of 194 homes being constructed on the Garnetts site by the river. This development is not just on the site of the old mill, it encompasses several green fields along the river as far as Gallows on Pool Road. The impact of this development is not yet being experienced, however 194 homes will mean another 400 cars travelling through Otley to get to work in Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate or beyond. These people will also want to park in Otley to do their shopping. The traffic impact is considerable.

We are also awaiting the development of the Otley hospital site, which has already been granted for housing. The impact of this has also not been felt yet, but it will be once construction begins. The Rumplecroft site has permission for 135 new houses. New housing has also occurred on Leeds Road and permission has been granted for more development on the site here near Pitts garage. Residents are also trying to fight development of 100 houses north of the river at Ashfield. Our schools are at full capacity as are GP surgeries and dentists. The infrastructure and highways cannot cope with all this development.

So why does Leeds City Council think that Otley can cope with a further 500 or 600 houses being built on green fields in Otley? This means another 1,000 cars on our already congested roads trying to get to work and park in town to get their shopping. The resulting traffic and pollution will be felt for years to come. Not forgetting the loss of beautiful countryside and the impact on wildlife and our own physical and emotional wellbeing, of the concretisation of more virgin green fields.

This cancerous growth on our semi-rural market town has to be stopped. I strongly urge the members of Otley Rugby Club to do what is right for the people of Otley and say no to any financial ‘offer that can’t be refused’ deal with the developers. Such an important decision for Otley is in the hands of the few.

Cathy Theaker St Clair Road, Otley Where’s the campaign to bring back the railway?

I read with interest that there is to be major housing development to the east of Otley and that this will go ahead when access roads and the like are complete. Is there a campaign to re-open the rail line to Otley via Pool so as to serve the new developments and if not, then why not?

I am aware that some of the alignment has been built on, but it should, nevertheless, be possible to re-open a single track line from the Harrogate line to a new station to the east of Otley which would allow four trains an hour to link Otley with Leeds. This could be done as part of the electrification of the Harrogate line. With the same frequency from Harrogate to Leeds this would give eight trains an hour via Horsforth.

I should have thought that such a project would be exactly what Otley Town council would be campaigning for. Is there such a campaign and if not then why? Bringing rail back to Otley would be of massive benefit to the town.

James Bovington Church Grove, Horsforth New building is sticking out like a sore thumb After Amanda Greaves’ piece and your editorial regarding the preservation of the character and charm of Ilkley, perhaps someone at the planning department ought to take note, for out of the ashes of Glovers Garage forecourt rises the most appalling piece of box architecture possible.

It is pretty obvious that whoever approved this disgusting pile of girders has never been anywhere near Ilkley.

It sticks out like a sore thumb, nudging to the very edge of the road. Whatever happened to building lines?

The title of Amanda’s piece is ‘Vigilant appeal to protect town’ so yes, this should have been seen coming. But surely, since the general public are not experts at reading plans, the backstop should be somebody with a modicum of sense at the planning stage to question this sort of development and “protect the town”.

Nothing I say will alter this “thing” now but shame on those who passed it. I hope every time they drive along Skipton Road and into our conservation area they note that what they passed does not match the area it is built in.

Mr M Rayner Leeds Road, Ilkley Road has become an obstacle course of cars For some years now walking up and down Cowpasture Road has resembled an obstacle course. One problem is that some residents prefer to keep their wheely-bins on the pavement rather than on their own property. By far the bigger problem, however, is encroachment on the pavement by parked cars.

This reached its most extreme form last week when several cars parked outside the Craiglands Hotel, totally obstructing the pavement, forcing pedestrians to walk in the road. While parking cars on pavements is irritating to all pedestrians – including hundreds of Ilkley Grammar School students who use Cowpasture Road – it causes considerable difficulty to those pushing buggies and to wheelchair users.

Another consideration is that kerbs and pavements are not made to sustain the weight of cars and vans; the continuing damage incurred as a result of such parking will, in due course, cost councils (and the tax-payer) thousands of pounds in repairs. Surely the time has come to declare one side of Cowpasture Road (and similarly affected roads in Ilkley) ‘no parking’ zones? – a double-yellow line could resolve this issue at a stroke (of paint).

In the meantime can we appeal to drivers to park their cars with due consideration for pedestrians.

Prof Mike Dixon Tarn Villas, Ilkley Commercial uses could save town’s museum The Manor House must be retained for the town of Ilkley of course. It should be made much more use of commercially – I have attended a very successful wedding celebration there for instance.

Some of the profits (£250,000 last year) from the South Hawksworth Street Car Park should be used. The great and the good of Ilkley should be persuaded to help to retain it in some viable form.

Linda Hartley Hangingstone Road, Ilkley Duo will get close shave for a very good cause Two very determined and concerned volunteers will be offering their heads in the cause of charity at High Royds Sports & Social Club on Sunday, November 24.

Malcolm Emmitt, from Otley, and Ian Bentley, of Menston, will be having all the hair on their heads shaved off to raise funds for the Take Heart Charity, the charity of The Yorkshire Heart Centre, based in Leeds General Infirmary. This organisation is solely run by volunteers and has raised over £2 million for equipment, both medical in the form of the latest technology and for the comfort of patients in the re-equipping of wards with bedside televisions and phones, a suite of rooms for relatives to use, a roof garden and an internal garden to bring a peaceful environment into what can be a stressful occasion.

For a small donation, anyone can join in with the shaving, which will commence at approximately 8pm. In view of attempts at ‘rationalising’ the service to heart patients in this area, funds are need to fight this threat of closure and what better way than with a good laugh provided by our two volunteers.

We hope to see a lot of you there supporting this local charity and joining in the fun.

Tom Booth Secretary, High Royds Sports & Social Club, Menston