A CHURCH'S car parking plan has been met with opposition from village councillors over the potential traffic hazard of cars pulling onto a busy road.

Members of Bramhope Parish Council said it was with some regret they recommended refusal of planning permission for the parking spaces in front of St Giles's Church, Leeds Road.

However, they concluded that the spaces would do little to alleviate parking on the nearby Church Hill, and

St Giles's had offered to build a new pedestrian refuge on the A660, or a 'separator' to prevent cars turning right into or out of the new access road.

Councillor David Ward said: "It's developing in my mind as a potential traffic hazard that's not worth looking at."

Meanwhile, Councillor Geoff Mills said he felt the parking spaces would not be appropriate in the church's leafy grounds.

He said: "This is for something that's going to look awful for however many hours a week. I don't think it's wholly appropriate."

One residents present at the meeting suggested making Church Hill a one-way street, but parish councillors said they did not have the powers to make such an order. Councillors also had concerns that making a left turn-only entrance to the church would lead to a procession of cars driving circuits around the village in an attempt to get to the church.

The parish council voted to recommend that Leeds City Council refuses the plan. The plan is expected to go before the Development Control (West) Panel for a decision.

St Giles's has also drawn up plans for an extension to the building.