ROAD safety concerns have spurred dozens of Addingham people to object to plans for 40 new homes in the village.

William Brear and Son Ltd has applied for permission from Bradford Council to build the mix of flats, three, four and five-bedroom house, including social housing, on land at The Acres.

The proposed development, tentatively named Wharfe Park, includes four bungalows, five or six two-bedroom houses, and six one-bedroom flats, for affordable housing.

But people living in Addingham fear the development could result in much heavier traffic on nearby Bolton Road, where Addingham Primary School is situated - and pose a road safety risk.

More than 40 letters of objection have been sent to Bradford Council.

A resident who contacted the Gazette, Fred Paton, of Bark Lane, said: "If you put 40 houses there, the traffic is going to be absolutely horrendous."

Mr Paton also highlighted the pressure likely to be placed on local schools for places to accommodate extra children if the houses are built.

In addition to pressure on primary schools in Wharfedale to provide enough schools places, Addingham has twice been at the centre of battles to get local children into Ilkley Grammar, when parents were initially told there were no places for their children in Year 7 at the Ilkley school.

Addingham is in the school's Priority One catchment area.

All Addingham children seeking schools places were later admitted - but it raised concern that the growing number of families in Ilkley, and further housing development, could eventually mean not all Addingham children are admitted to their nearest secondary school.

Traffic on Bolton Road - particularly in summer months or when special events are taking place in North Yorkshire - has regularly been a matter of concern for Addingham people, who campaigned for a lower 20 miles per hour speed limit in the road.

The proposals include plans for social housing.

The proposed development, tentatively named Wharfe Park, includes four bungalows, five or six two-bedroom houses, and six one-bedroom flats, for affordable housing.

If planning permission is granted, the other houses would be sold on the open market

A social housing provider which owns existing properties nearby is said to have expressed an interest in acquiring some of all of the affordable housing provision in the new development.

In a design and access statement, Don MacRae, of Allison & MacRae Chartered Architects, said: "The proposed design seeks to create an area with a distinct identity, a coherent element making a positive contribution to the larger village."

The planning application is expected to be determined by Bradford Council.