The decision by Persimmon Homes to carry out major sewer work on a controversial site at Gilstead is both bad news and good. For the people who have campaigned valiantly against this plan to build 66 more homes in Warren Lane it represents the end of the line. The houses will now be built despite their opposition to the scheme and Gilstead will have even more homes to clutter the environment and challenge the infrastructure.

But at least a part of that infrastructure will have been improved to cope with the increased pressure on the sewerage system, although that still leaves over-subscribed schools and congested roads that even the Bingley relief road won't relieve. It would have been appalling if the building work had gone ahead with the present sewer overflow, which protesters insisted would not be able to cope.

There should never have been any question of the builder going ahead without that work being done. Members of the planning panel were right to stick to their guns. It is good that Persimmon Homes have now acknowledged that and have dropped the idea of taking Bradford Council to a public inquiry next month - a move which will save the authority money it can ill afford to be forced into spending.

At the end of the day, though, this is a site which many - including Bingley Councillor David Heseltine - think should never have been earmarked for housing. It was a mistake to put it into the Unitary Development Plan, as once a green site is included it is very difficult to have it taken out.

Let us hope that lessons have been learned from this for the future, when there will be ever more pressure from builders to bite into the Aire Valley's remaining greenery.