A LARGE swath of green belt land around Horsforth could be lost forever if new proposals in the area's planning blueprint are accepted.

Land to the north and south of Brownberrie Lane faces removal from the green belt following the recommendation of a Government Unitary Development Plan (UDP) inspector. Scrubland around nearby hockey fields at Trinity and All Saints College will also lose its protected status.

Leeds City Council planning officers provisionally support the inspector's recommendations in the Draft Revised UDP.

Concerned town councillors fear that the area could be swamped with housing or development from the college if it loses its status.

Committee chairman Councillor John Brodwell said: "You take out the green belt link and eventually you will cease to have green belt there. This is a most significant intrusion and it could be the end of the green belt in Horsforth.

"We are most certainly not happy about it and oppose strongly the loss of green belt and any sports pitches."

Coun John Iceton added: "If you do this, where does it end? It is the thin end of the wedge and is a disastrous proposal."

Residents are being urged to fill out objection forms, which are available from Horsforth Library. The forms should be sent to Leeds City Council which will consider the representations received and the need for any further response and could decide a further public inquiry is needed.

Once the city council is satisfied no further change is necessary, it can go ahead and adopt the plan.

l Meanwhile, town councillors are opposing plans by the Ashley Meeting Room Trust for a detached church with 17 car parking spaces off St Margaret's Avenue and Church Road on the grounds that there may not be enough parking spaces, they oppose any development of the site and wish a prominent tree to be retained.