BURLEY-IN-WHARFEDALE residents have formed a group to fight plans for 500 new houses on green fields between the village and Ben Rhydding.

Dozens of people packed into a meeting at the Red Lion pub, Burley, on Tuesday night, to discuss concerns about the plans recently unveiled by Commercial Estates Group (CEG) of Harrogate.

The company held an exhibition for residents in Burley last month, showing proposals for houses, a new primary school, and open space areas, plus suggested contributions to local facilities.

But residents concerned about the implications for the area of large scale housing development have got together to form a group which will represent their views at future planning debates.

Increased risk of flooding in the valley and the impact on wildlife were among concerns, with worries being expressed by people who live near to the proposed site, to the west of the village.

Ward councillors and a member of Burley Parish Council also attended the meeting this week.

The plans come as organisations across Wharfedale prepare to go into a hearing before a Government planning inspector this month over the latest modifications to Bradford Council's draft Local Plan Core Strategy.

The proposed amendments include an increase on the hundreds of homes previously planned for the valley.