MULTI-million pound proposals to build a new Wharfedale Hospital in Otley were rocked this week when environment chiefs warned that floods could hit the chosen site from the River Wharfe, writes John Baron.

The Environment Agency claims it has an obligation to object to proposals to build the new hospital on land to the east of Garnetts Paper Mill, at the side of the river, because the area is a flood plain. The agency fears the site could be flooded in cases of severe weather.

If Leeds City Council planners heed the agency's objections, plans to site a new hospital in that area could be dashed once and for all.

A spokeswoman for the Environment Agency confirmed: "We are objecting on the grounds that the proposed building is on a flood plain.

"Firstly, we fear that there may be a risk of the site flooding and secondly, by building on a flood plain, there is always the danger that it could lead to flooding elsewhere. We have an obligation and responsibility to advise people not to build on flood plains, not least for their own safety. Nevertheless, the application will go through the normal democratic process. We do hope that our recommendations will be taken into consideration."

The news comes a week after an independent planning inspector turned down an application by Garnetts to build houses and an access to the proposed site.

He, along with Leeds City Council, said he was concerned about flooding on the site and said that further work on this problem would be necessary before any outline permission could be granted.

Councillor Graham Kirkland (Lib Dem, Otley and Wharfedale) said the Environment Agency's objection needed to come out into the open as a matter of urgency.

"We need to address the issues they are raising without delay. If they have serious concerns then they need to be brought out into the open and discussed before things get to the planning stage.

"It would be a big blow if we lost the hospital. The first priority is for the people of Otley to have a hospital."

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust said they were aware of the problem but felt that it was not a serious cause for concern.

n Meanwhile, Garnetts' plan to build houses on the site has been turned down for a number of reasons. The company had submitted a formal appeal against Leeds City Council's failure to decide whether plans for a housing development at the east of the mill site in Otley should be given the go-ahead.

But a planning inspector at a public inquiry has decided to refuse the plans on the grounds that:

l He saw no reason to set aside the employment designation on part of the site

l He was not convinced that proceeding with the housing complex was crucial to finance the new access road to serve the industrial complex.

l More information should be provided about affordable housing and greenspace.

l The development would be on land formerly used for tipping and further information should be provided about affordable housing and greenspace.

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