Skipton could have to make room for 88 new families if planning applications, which are already in the pipeline, come to completion.

This week Craven District Council granted planning permission for four new houses in Otley Road, against the wishes of local residents, and gave outline planning permission for 15 more on land at Whinny Gill.

Applications for 36 houses on Burnside allotment land and 33 properties on land off Marton Street have also now been received by the planning department, again against the wishes of locals.

This week residents on Otley Road had their objections against houses on their doorsteps overruled by the planning committee. The application for four, three bedroom houses on grassland on Otley Road was approved.

Residents claimed that the development would be a "green field ribbon development" and would harm the tree lined approach into the town. They were concerned about flooding from the beck, and that the houses would be crammed onto the site.

Other letters said the access would be dangerous as Otley Road was not wide enough for vehicles to wait and turn safely into the development.

Skipton Town Council raised no objections but the Civic Society said the closeness of the beck, road and railway made the site unsuitable for housing.

Skipton residents had mixed feelings about outline planning permission which has been granted for 15 houses at the old store on Whinny Gill Road.

Shortbank Road resident Frank Harrop said it was important that existing trees remained to shield the new development from his house. Secondly he said all the houses in the plan were in an area prone to flooding and more houses would mean the water was less likely to soak away.

"It will have to go somewhere and bearing in mind how this property and other properties down Shortbank Road are already developed and have to be designed to drain top surface water away from these properties, we say the development is not viable."

He was told that there was no reason why the trees could not be retained as this was just an outline drawing and details were to be finalised and that there was no problem with drainage in the area.

Skipton Town Council had hoped the land could be retained for business purposes to create more jobs.

Simon Smith, on behalf of the applicant said the site was originally developed during the second world war and that "the building is now unsuitable for modern use." He said it was past repair.

Coun Frances Cook said new houses would put a strain on the few facilities in the area and the local school.

Coun Richard Welsh added: "Looking at this I would have thought we have exceeded the number of house we were going to have by 2006. Can we have an update? Have we not exceeded the allocation already?"

"I have full sympathy with Mrs Cook. We can't just keep banging these houses up without all the extra facilities to go with it."