AIREBOROUGH'S MP has blasted a barmy' decision to allow access to a new Guiseley golf course from a hairpin bend on an increasingly busy road.

Seventeen people, including MP Paul Truswell and Councillor Graham Latty (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon), opposed an application to renew permission for the creation of a part two / part three-storey clubhouse at Thorpe Farm, off Thorpe Lane.

The objectors' main concerns centred on the site of the proposed access, the generation of extra traffic on to surrounding rural lanes and the size of the clubhouse.

But Leeds Plans Panel (West) decided last Thursday to approve the Luddington Investments Ltd scheme, despite protests from panel member and ward councillor Stuart Andrew (Con, Guiseley and Rawdon).

He said: "Unfortunately the problem was that planning permission had already been given several years ago and this was just re-applying for that, so it was difficult to argue that there was any significant difference.

"But I argued against it on the grounds that the access is inappropriate and that we have to bear in mind that in the next few years there will be significant developments within that area, at High Royds not least.

"I'm concerned that this road, which is already used quite a lot as a short cut, will get a lot more traffic when those developments are up and running. To have cars coming and going from this access, which is right on a sharp, steep bend will be very dangerous."

Mr Truswell has supported residents in opposing every application for renewal of the golf course permission, and changes to the clubhouse and access, since 1997.

He said: "This is a very disappointing but probably predictable result. Councillors have never previously supported local people's objections to this proposal, so the plans panel members and planning officers were able to say nothing had changed since it was last approved.

"The golf course is completely unnecessary, but that was agreed in 1992. The original idea of having the clubhouse and the access near the main road near the White Cross roundabout was at least sensible.

"Moving the clubhouse up the hill and allowing this dangerous access to it was barmy when it was first proposed, and is still barmy now in the view of people who know Thorpe Lane.

"I really cannot understand why councillors and planning and highways officers ever allowed it.

"Thorpe Lane is used as a high-speed cut-through. The location of a golf course will add significantly to the volume of traffic, in addition to the increases generated by developments that have been completed, are under construction - like High Royds and Silver Cross - or are currently in the planning pipeline, such as Brook Crompton.

"The access is extremely hazardous because it is located on a steep hairpin bend with restricted sight lines. There is no footpath, which brings pedestrians into conflict with vehicles and the carriageway is narrow.

"It also has an adverse camber that has frequently led to vehicles leaving the road and smashing through the fence."

Despite objectors' concerns, however, planning officers told the panel that the access shownis acceptable and meets the requisite highways standards'.