PLANS to build two semi-detached houses at Glusburn have been deferred for a site visit after an outcry from local residents.

Twenty nine letters of representation were received by Craven District Council in respect of the development on land to the east of White Abbey Cottage in Green Lane.

The proposal is for two semi-detached dwellings to be built adjoining roadside terraced buildings. Each would have two bedrooms and a minimum of four car parking spaces to the rear.

A new access drive is also proposed to the north of the long terrace of houses on Green Lane.

But Coun Alan Butterfield, of Glusburn Parish Council, said the development would intrude into neighbours' privacy and he expressed concern about the narrowness of the road at the point of access.

He also pointed out the council's fears that the development could exacerbate the flooding problems already experienced by nearby residents.

The parish council had suggested that since the site was in the oldest part of the village, it should be put forward as a conservation area in the next development plan for Craven district.

A representative for nearby residents said the development would also add to the traffic problems.

"Life on Green Lane is like living on the M62. It cannot take the current volume of traffic so how can it cope with more?" she said.

"Cars park outside my own front door and I have to park down the street and carry heavy shopping home."

Residents had suggested some traffic calming measures for Green Lane or perhaps a one-way system to avoid a potentially serious accident.

Members were told Green Lane was used as a rat-run, with larger vehicles taking short cuts along there to avoid Cross Hills' centre.

She also confirmed Coun Butterfield's comments about flooding. She said her home had been flooded twice in the past 12 months.

"If the culvert is disturbed it will only make it worse for us," she said.

The agent for the applicant said he understood the problems of surface water flooding was a concern and would not go away even without this proposal.

"A slow-release drainage system will make sure that surface water does not add to the existing problem," he said.

Coun Ken Hart said he too was concerned about the flooding and dismissed the applicant's method of dealing with surface water.

"It may be okay in normal summers but last year we realised the problems had not been sorted after months and months of rain," he said.

Highways officials said they had no problems with the plans as long as visibility dimensions relating to the access point and details of its construction were provided prior to commencement, and that access, parking and turning facilities be formed as the submitted drawing.

Both Yorkshire Water and the Environment Agency said they did not need to comment on the proposals.

Craven District Council's environmental health department suggested any development should take account of the culvert running through the site and a possible second culvert which ran down Green Lane.

Members agreed to defer a decision until after the site visit.