A long-running campaign to make Pool-in-Wharfedale safer from speeding traffic is nearing victory - at a price.

Pool is set to receive a whole package of traffic calming measures, but only after Leeds councillors approved in principal detailed plans by Redrow Homes for 110 houses at Swallow Drive.

Residents and the parish council have been fighting for calming measures since 1935, after being faced with increasing volumes of speeding traffic and now heavy good vehicles rumbling through the heart of their village.

Now Redrow Homes has promised a 'substantial' amount of cash to implement a whole package of traffic calming measures as well as more money that could see the playground moved next to the village hall.

Pool Parish Council Chairman, Councillor Chris Leggatt, said he welcomed the cash boosts, given that a planning inspector had already given the much-opposed Swallow Drive development outline planning permission.

He said: "I welcome the fact that Redrow has voluntarily agreed to provide these sums of money for the benefit of the community.

"Combined with the £15,000 the city council had pledged for traffic improvements, it seems most of the measures were included in a scheme we put together with the council two years ago may be included. We have to welcome that."

Villagers will also be given their say on how the money allocated to improve 'green space provision' is spent.

The current idea is to make the area around the village hall more of a focal point, possibly by relocating the children's play area there, as well as improving the tennis club changing facilities and building another tennis court.

At a planning meeting in Leeds Civic Hall, Coun Phil Coyne (Lab, Otley and Wharfedale) said he was confident that most of the objections raised by Pool Parish Council to the Swallow Drive scheme have been addressed.

But he added that issues about the massing of the development at the northern entrance and the need to preserve Pool's character by having stone houses as opposed to brick needed to be addressed.

The scheme was approved, subject to council officers sorting out the remaining issues with the developer.

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