PEOPLE in Aireborough are being urged to object to a revised site allocation plan amid claims about “irresponsible grabbing” of the green belt.

Guiseley and Rawdon councillor Graham Latty is warning about the “misleading” creation of “broad locations”.

Leeds City Council says the new definition will give greater protection to the green belt - but opponents say it will result in more development of green belt sites.

Now Coun Latty is urging the public to make their views known before the council’s consultation comes to an end on February 26.

He said: “Time is closing in for sending in your comments on the irresponsible grabbing of our green belt and the misleading creation of “Broad Locations” represented by the Revised Site Allocation Process. The only real result from this latest manifestation of the Site Allocations Program is to ensure that half of our green belt sites can be built on from day one and these new “locations” put the other sites on the back-burner ready to be given planning at some unspecified future date.”

His concerns are echoed by Aireborough Neighbourhood Development Forum. Last week the Forum’s spokeswoman Jennifer Kirkby warned that sections of Aireborough’s green belt are in danger of being “deleted”.

The council says 33 housing sites in green belt areas of the city would be given increased protection under the new proposals. It says the Broad Locations would not be considered for any future development until the council thinks it is necessary. Other sites would be developed first ahead of these 33 locations, which together make up almost 55 per cent of all green belt locations identified in the plan.

The consultation will run until 5pm on Monday, February 26.

The proposed change follows a review of green belt housing allocations carried out following new government guidelines announced in September.

The council has revised its approach in light of potentially lower overall housing targets for Leeds.

The feedback received in the consultation will be passed on to government-appointed inspectors as part of their consideration of the council’s plans.

When the broad location consultation was launched Leeds City Council executive member for regeneration, transport and planning Councillor Richard Lewis said: “We are firmly committed to ensuring there is no unnecessary loss of green belt land in Leeds while meeting future housing need.

“It is important these plans continue to progress, as it is the only way for us to ensure we can make our own decisions on houses being built in the right places where they are needed rather than others making those decisions and us having to accept it.

“Based on the latest information and recent government announcements, we have reviewed our approach to protect these green belt sites, rather than releasing them prematurely.”

Anyone wanting to comment can do so online at https://www.leeds.gov.uk/your-council/planning/site-allocations-plan-revised-submission-draft. Comments can be submitted by email to sap@leeds.gov.uk, or by post to Leeds SAP Revised Submission Draft Consultation, Policy and Plans Group, Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD.