A LONG-RUNNING campaign to make Pool-in-Wharfedale safer from speeding traffic is nearing victory - but at a huge price.

Pool is set to receive a whole package of traffic calming measures, but only after city 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 lately 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.

"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.

"I think it is disgraceful that the money is coming from a voluntary contribution. If the city council hadn't been negligent at the public inquiry, the money could have been secured in a legally binding way.

"The developers could walk away from the whole thing because their offer is voluntary, so I am keeping my fingers crossed."

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 Tuesday's planning meeting in Leeds Civic Hall, Coun Phil Coyne (Lab, Otley and Wharfedale) said he was fairly confident that most of the objections raised by Pool Parish Council to the Swallow Drive scheme had 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.

Councillor Brian Jennings called for the plans to be deferred until those issues had been sorted out, but committee chairman, Councillor Jim McKenna (Lab, Armley), said delaying the decision might jeopardise whether the developers would give Pool the money.

"We can't risk the village not receiving this money. This is the least worst option," said Coun McKenna.

Coun Jennings added: "It's a pity that the only way we can get the money for improvements was by allowing a developer to build more than 100 houses."

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

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