RESIDENTS fighting to preserve the Green Belt in Guiseley are furious at plans for a new golf clubhouse which they claim would be a 'blot on the landscape' which would be seen for miles around.

The Guiseley and Menston Green Belt Action Group (GAMGBAG) claims that a part two-storey and part three storey clubhouse to the proposed golf course at Thorpe Lane, Guiseley, would destroy green space land - and that car parking for 90 cars in a rural area is unacceptable.

They are encouraging residents to fight the controversial proposals which, if given permission, would replace the existing plans to transform Thorpe Farm into the clubhouse, which was given permission last year.

GAMGBAG vice chairman Brian Rhodes has written a letter of objection to the plans by Luddington Investments. There are fears that the plan would be the thin end of the wedge and lead to further

development in Guiseley's Green Belt.

Press spokesman Graham Hoult told the Wharfedale Observer: "Unfortunately they have quietly resurrected the plans. We did not object to the original plans for a golf clubhouse and still do not, but this is a brand new building on a green belt site with parking for 90 cars.

"This is a sizeable structure that we're talking about here.

"It's three storeys high in places and set reasonable high up - it will be seen for miles and destroy the area's character.

"The previous application used the existing farm building which we could have coped with, but this is virgin farm land and a sizeable structure."

Mr Hoult added that GAMGBAG had spoken to the developers last year and said that he felt that they had gone back on their pledge to only use the 'footprint' of the existing farm building for the

clubhouse.

Last March, city councillors agreed to plans to transform Thorpe Farm into a clubhouse, subject to improving pedestrian safety down Thorpe Lane and placing conditions to ensure that the clubhouse was not used for public events. There had been widespread opposition by local residents to the plans which were backed by MP Paul Truswell.

The new plans also include different access onto the site.

Campaigning Back Lane resident Dennis Conlon is also objecting to the new proposals on a number of grounds and said that no decision should be made until it is known what development will be taking place on the adjacent High Royds site.

l GAMGBAG has not yet made an

official decision on whether to support

£2.5 million plans to transform the

old tramshed, which currently houses Arnold Laver's, into a gym and luxury flats.