PEOPLE in Pool-in-Wharfedale against any further development of their village will welcome plans to halt the building of hundreds of new homes linked to a relief road.

Originally deemed a sensible idea - despite the feelings of the majority of villagers - some 27 acres had been put aside in Leeds' planning blueprint for the future development of hundreds of houses and a new road to the west of the village.

But following new Government planning guidelines, the undeveloped land looks set to be placed back into the protective green belt. However, residents have been warned they cannot afford to be complacent.

Pool has attracted a lot of interest in the last few years from developers keen to build in the attractive village close enough to Leeds to draw commuters.

The same developers will undoubtedly fight moves by the city council to stop land in Pool from any future development and it is up to villagers to make their feelings known.

City council's bizarre U-turn

For some bizarre reason an industrial site slightly out of Otley town centre has now been deemed not suitable for shops - because Leeds city councillors say it is too far out of the town centre.

Not so long ago, Ashfield Works was put forward, by the same council, as a prime development site for shops, houses and even a riverside bar. The riverside bar caused some merriment amongst town councillors when it was mooted some two years ago, but at least the council was on the right track.

Now, more man hours have been put aside for the putting together of another planning brief to be presented to town and ward councillors for their comments, which will, of course, be taken into serious consideration before Leeds goes ahead anyway and gives the go-ahead to hundreds of lucrative new homes.