WORK on a 75 home scheme on green land in Otley began this week - days after local residents were notified.

The Yorkshire Housing and Strategic Team Group project will see a mixture of two bedroom, three bedroom and four bedroom houses built on hillside fields behind Meagill Rise, Rumple Croft and St David's Road.

The plan was approved in the summer but letters to warn neighbouring properties on the Weston estate about the start-date only went out last Thursday, November 2.

The short notice has not gone down well with residents or local councillors.

Councillor Sandy Lay (Lib Dem, Otlye & Yeadon) said: "Clearly residents receiving just four days' notice (at most) before commencement of works on the site is disappointing.

"I'm hoping that this is not reflective of the developer's usual behaviour so I have already written to Yorkshire Housing to inform them that I would like discussions between them, council planning officers and ward members.

"I have also asked that we meet to discuss that the 62.5 per cent of affordable housing on the site is prioritised for local residents struggling to find low cost, secure homes."

In his letter to residents the Strategic Team Group's Contracts Manager, Mick Hebden, said: "We now need to make you aware pre-commencement and enabling works will commence on Monday, November 6.

"This will include tree protection, erecting fencing and the formation of the site entrance on Meagill Rise.

"Our build programme is approximately 104 weeks, making our target date for completion October, 2019."

Explaining that the work will take place between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday, and 8am to noon on Saturdays, he added: "We are registered with Code for Considerate Constructors and will aim to keep our site and the surrounding area in good, clean order and ensure site personnel maintain safe standards of behaviour and dress.

"We will release regular updates to keep you informed of our progress and advise you of any aspects of our works which may impact on our neighbours."

Lots of residents have been venting their frustrations, mainly about permission for the scheme having been granted in the first place, online.

Adele Wood, posting on the Otley - Our Town Facebook page on Tuesday, said: "Having to explain to my son that all these tree cutters' wagons are here to build houses.

"I now feel sad explaining to him that it’s now going to affect our wildlife, trees, etcetera."

Angela Foyle said: "There will be no greenery left soon, just another blot on the landscape."

Others, though, took a different postion and pointed out the local need for more affordable homes.

Helen Knight said: "We all live in houses that were once built on the flora and fauna and were someone else’s green space."