EXCITING steps have been taken to make Bramhope a centre of excellence for rugby union in West Yorkshire.

The Leeds Tykes and Bramhope West Park RUFC have merged in a deal which will hopefully see The Sycamores ground given a major facelift.

The Leeds Tykes has submitted a planning application to Leeds City Council to build two new rugby pitches at a cost of £50,000 in the grounds of West Park.

If granted, the Tykes also plan to replace the outdated clubhouse and changing rooms and bring in two young sides to train there.

It is hoped the Tykes Under-19 and Under-21 teams will eventually be able to play for West Park and other local sides.

The Tykes want to take West Park to the top by inputting much-needed funds.

West Park is already in line for promotion next season if it retains its position in second place of the Yorkshire Second Division.

Mike Palmer-Jones, the club secretary of Leeds Rugby Union Club's members club, confirmed that the club was hoping to create a centre of excellence in Bramhope.

"We want to put our money into grass roots rugby and help West Park to rise up in the league," he said.

"We want to build two more pitches if they are successful then we will be looking to invest in West Park. It will be a small investment, nothing more than replacing what is already there. Their clubhouse is really not too good, we would want to create a new one and proper changing rooms. Anything built would be to modern regulations, a real centre of excellence.

"The existing pitches will probably become training pitches in the future. At the very most two more teams will come to play there, Leeds Tykes Under-21 and Under-19 teams. That would be no more than used to play there ten years ago."

The Tykes academy teams currently play at Shandost Park in Roundhay on land which is being considered for residential development, if sold the money will be reinvested into West Park.

Mr Palmer-Jones said: "The drop out in rugby union is a great concern to the Rugby Football Union and we need to invest in grass roots rugby to get the players of the future. We chose West Park because there are only a few grounds in Leeds which could accommodate two more pitches.

"Also many of our players are in college and university and live in the Headingley and Burley areas so it would be easier for them to get there.

"I would hope we would get permission by the end of the year. The land is agricultural it would take a full season to get it anywhere near looking like a pitch."

Bramhope Parish Councillor and Leeds city councillor Clive Fox (Cons, Otley and Wharfedale said that there were concerns about the plans in the village.

He said: "We are treating the application with extreme caution. There could be up to four pitches there already for rugby training," he said. "We know that in its overall scheme the Leeds Tykes want to take the club over and build gyms and offices there and extra things we haven't seen yet.

"People living on The Sycamores are concerned because it is already a nightmare when West Park play matches because people park all along the road, if it turns into a major training ground how much more traffic will there be."

The Leeds Tykes has already carried out a traffic survey on the site and believe it will not generate more traffic than the site has been used to.

"We have done a traffic generation study and the number of users at most will be at the level it was ten years ago," added Mr Palmer-Jones. "The academy teams would only have about 12 home games a season and do not attract many spectators. The traffic generated would only see one bus bringing in the away team."