RESIDENTS in Bramhope are being urged to make their views known about hundreds of new houses amid fears the village could be turned into a town.

The parish council is stressing villagers now have their last chance for a say on proposals to allocate land for 441 houses, increasing the size of Bramhope by 25 per cent.

Th proposals are contained in Leeds City Council's site allocations plan, which is putting forward land across the city for thousands of new homes.

In Bramhope, 376 houses are suggested for Breary Lane East/Leeds Road, with 23 homes to the back of 45 Creskeld Lane and 42 homes on land at Green Acres, Moor Road.

Now the parish council is writing to every resident to explain the proposals and to tell people how they can comment, and a meeting is planned for October 27 in St Giles Church Hall.

City councillors for the ward – Barry Anderson, Billy Flynn and Caroline Anderson – will brief residents on the proposals during the meeting, which starts at 7pm.

Residents have until 5pm on November 16 to comment, and they are being warned objections they made to the original site allocations proposals in 2013 will not be carried forward.

In its letter to residents, Bramhope Parish Council says: "The parish council is opposed to such a large increase in the size of Bramhope and questions the 'soundness' of such plans."

It is planning to object on a number of grounds.

Parish councillor, John Howard, said: "The proposed sites mean Bramhope would be heavily affected, with a significant number of additional homes turning the village into a small town but without the necessary infrastructure."

Cllr Barry Anderson said councils had been asked to set targets to meet the greatly increased housing needs of the country.

He added: "I cannot urge you too strongly to take advantage of this opportunity to make your views heard by attending this meeting.

"You can also see more details on the proposals on the leeds.gov.uk/yourcity website, where you can submit an on-line consultation response form or you can respond via e-mail to sap@leeds.gov.uk or by letter to LDF Publication Draft Consultation, Forward Planning and Implementation, The Leonardo Building, 2 Rossington Street, Leeds, LS2 8HD expressing your views and making any comments on what you believe is the right course for Bramhope."

Meanwhile, a public meeting on the site allocations will take place at Greenacre Hall in Rawdon at 4pm on October 18.

Rawdon Parish Council chairman, Councillor John Davies, warned that huge swathes of Green Belt could be swallowed up into the site allocations in North West Leeds.

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