EXPANSION plans of Guiseley Football Club have been shown the red card again with a Government inspector refusing planning permission for new terracing at its Nethermoor ground.

The football club, anxious to improve its facilities, had hoped to build a 66-metres long and five-metre high terracing holding 450 people despite having previous expansion plans knocked back by city councillors.

The latest plans were refused on the grounds that the new stand would obstruct a vista of trees, cause parking problems and also result in the loss of some Sycamore trees.

Now Guiseley FC chairman Phil Rogerson claims they may have to look at moving to other sites in the area - and a mixed housing and leisure development at the High Royds Hospital site was something that may be considered once the Nethermoor lease runs out in 2003.

"The decision makes no sense and it's difficult to know what to do from here - there aren't any easy answers," said Mr Rogerson.

"It's not as simple as saying 'well we didn't get planning permission, let's carry on regardless'. You have to move forward or you get into a downward spiral where you don't have the facilities and so can't attract the players, the manager you want or the crowds. We cannot stand still.

"God forbid, we are beginning to see that start of that downward spiral already.

"We need to ask ourselves whether we are able to stay at Nethermoor if we're never able to develop it. But the problem then is where do you move to? There aren't that many sites."

He added that Leeds City Council is also currently looking at the legal status of the ground to clarify ownership.

The inspector refused the application because the ground was on a public park and the new stand would harm the views of woodland beyond Station Road.

He also said that there were a number of mature sycamore trees which made a significant contribution to the setting. Although no trees would have to be removed, the stand would have a harmful effect on the roots and wa s 'likely to lead to a premature loss of fine trees'.

In his report, the inspector noted that existing car parking was inadequate and that parking on match days already caused problems of road safety and inconvenience to local residents.

"The stand would increase the attraction of the ground for spectators and some increase in car parking would be likely to take place," the inspector added. "There is some objection on the grounds of additional parking, although not as great as that based on loss of vista and trees."

He concluded that the benefits of better accommodation for fans were outweighed by the objections.

Guiseley FC appealed after Leeds City Council took more than eight weeks to determine the application.

At the appeal, the council said that they would have refused the application anyway, claiming the terracing would be out of character and block a well-used path.

A petition signed by 16 people opposed the plan and ten letters of objection argued the new structure would be an eyesore and claimed the club was taking over a public park.

But more than 60 people supported Guiseley's application, claiming the club needed better facilities to be successful.