TRUSTEES of a local estate have submitted plans to build on two fields which Skipton residents have fought to keep as a green site.

The proposal has come from the trustees of the Tarn Moor Estate, who represent the people of Skipton, even though residents and local groups strongly opposed fields to the north of Raikes Road being included in housing allocation plans.

In 1995 the land was included in the consultation draft of the Local Plan for housing but was excluded from the Deposit Draft in 1996 after residents objected.

At a public inquiry into the plan in 1997, the Civic Society argued that the district could provide enough housing without building on green fields.

The White Hill Protection Group, made up of local residents, also took up the battle and fought to protect the land near their homes collecting hundreds of signatures against the proposals.

However the inspector asked for the Raikes Road site to be put back into the plan to provide higher priced dwellings. By this time, a residential development at Overdale had been allowed on appeal with permission for 27 detached houses. The councillors rejected the inspector's recommendations as no longer relevant.

The Secretary of State approved the plan and it was adopted in 1999.

Raikes Road resident Andy Wade said: "Bang out of the blue, the trustees put in the application for the fields."

He added that they clearly had had no regard for the public consultation which had cost thousands of pounds and had received backing from hundreds of residents. "This has been agreed. It has not been a two man operation. It has taken two years and tax payers' money."

Mr Wade was worried that if the fields were built on, it would open the way for more development. "It is clearly not an infill site and clearly would have a major impact on Skipton."

He pointed out that the only access to the proposed buildings would be through the Rockwood housing estate. There could be no access formed from Gargrave Road as it was all protected land.

Mr Wade said the residents were upset that this application had been thrown at them with little warning and no explanation.

The White Hills Protection group has been reformed to fight this application.

Joint co-organiser Roy Wilcock said: "Our concern is that should this application be approved then all areas on the outskirts of Skipton excluded from the deposit plan will be targeted for development.

"This vastly expensive public inquiry which was intended to determine development until 2006 will be seen as a futile exercise."

He added that the group intended to back up the submission with signatures on a petition.

Gwynne Walters, secretary of the Skipton Civic Society said she had always understood the assets from the Tarn Moor Estate were to be used for the benefit of Skiptonians. "I doubt if many Skiptonians would consider the loss to bricks and mortar of this pleasant field beside White Hills Road to be of general benefit."

Trustee councillor Paul Whitaker said: "It is the trustees' duty to ensure that the maximum revenue is obtained and it is up to the planners to decide whether or not the land can be used for building purposes."

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