Councillors have expressed concerns about the sale of a former psychiatric hospital in Rawdon.

Fulford Grange, a BUPA-owned building in Micklefield Lane, has been put on the market for more than £900,000.

But councillors fear the building may become an office or residential development causing an increase in traffic on what they consider an already problematic road.

Councillor Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said: "The road is a main route from Bradford to the airport and so already generates a lot of traffic. Traffic lights have been installed because of the danger faced by the number of drivers using narrow roads in the area. It's a case of old roads not being able to cope with modern developments. There have been a number of accidents and I have witnessed two myself.

"But there is also the Green Belt aspect because nobody wants to see that taken away.

"The hospital did generate traffic but only at visiting times which were not at rush hour. I definitely think a residential development would be better than an office site where cars would be coming and going all day."

Councillor Chris Townsley (Lib Dem, Horsforth) said: "Quite frankly, I think any development which would increase traffic will have to be resisted."

But Fraser Thompson, director at Otley's Dacre, Son & Hartley estate agents, said the company was anticipating a strong demand for the property.

He said: "It is an attractive building and I'm sure whoever buys it will do something worthwhile. At the moment it has got planning permission for offices so it could become an office complex or it could be transformed into a nice residential conversion."

The site, registered as Green Belt, is already earmarked for offices after Leeds City Council granted BUPA planning permission 18 months ago.

The private health company was planning to create offices for its workers across Leeds but changed their minds.

Its most recent plan to transform the six-acre site, which has three separate buildings, into a BUPA Assisted Living Development was turned down earlier this year.

Phil Padgett, a director of Bupa Assisted Living, said: "We didn't plan on selling the property but we don't have any use for it now."

The property will go on the market officially next week and Dacre, Son & Hartley plan to hold viewing sessions.