Plans for a major redevelopment of the former High Royds Hospital site have been branded an over development by a councillor.

Menston councillor Audrey Brand - chairman of Ilkley Parish Council's Planning Committ - is strongly opposed to the package of proposals which includes more than 500 residential units, and around 7,000 square metres of office space.

The scheme, which is being put forward by London-based developers The Raven Group, also includes a 64-bed private hospital, a small retail unit, a doctor's surgery and a nursery.

The plans will be discussed by Ilkley Parish Council on Monday and will need to be approved by Leeds City planners, who have already given the scheme their support.

But the plans are being opposed by Coun Brand who is concerned about the sheer scale of the development.

She said: "It is an over development, and in its present form I am certainly not happy with it.

"When you see the plans you can see how concentrated they are, with some of the house designs shown as three-storey."

Coun Brand argued that Government thinking encouraged high density developments.

"High density is Government policy at the moment," she said. "A little while ago they were recommending between 20 and 30 houses per acre, then it went to 40, and now it's anything from 50 to 60."

She says she is particularly concerned about the impact of extra traffic from the development. "I think one of the main problems will be on the highway, because the A65 is always crammed full during peak times, " she stressed.

"The developers say that the traffic that they envisage will be no greater than if it were being used as a hospital.

"But that is totally irrelevant because it is not being used as a hospital."

Detailed plans of the scheme have been put on display in Menston Library and now Coun Brand is urging local people to study them and to make their views know.

She said: "I know quite a number of people have been in and looked at the plans and made verbal comments.

"I would encourage them to write with their comments as well as objections and suggestions."

Anyone who wishes to forward their views should write to The Development Department, Steve Speak, Chief Policy Officer, Selectapost 5, Merrion House, 110 Merrion Centre, Leeds, LS2 8SH.

The public are also invited to observe a meeting of Ilkley Parish Council where the High Royds plans will be discussed. The meeting will be held at the Town Hall at 7pm on Monday September 8.