Work is expected to start next month on a controversial development to demolish student accommodation blocks and replace them with flats.

Councillors have approved Crest Homes (Northern) Ltd's plan to demolish Ilkley College student accommodation at Westwood, Queen's Road, and build 24 two-bedroomed apartments in its place.

The firm will also be allowed to convert another student hostel, Hillside, in Wells Road, into 18 apartments.

But people living next to a housing site say their fears of traffic nightmares have been ignored by planning bosses. As the bulldozers prepare to move in, they have predicted that the increase in new homes in Ilkley will lead to the town centre becoming completely ruined by traffic.

The Westwood site has generated the most controversy, attracting 38 letters of objection from residents, councillors and Ilkley Civic Society.

Patricia Shankley, who lives opposite the Westwood site, said: "Once again Ilkley will suffer because of decisions being made elsewhere.

"We feel we did not get a sympathetic hearing. I am very disappointed as are the rest of the residents. We knew it had to be developed but we felt we were sold short."

Kate Brown, the new chairman of Ilkley Parish Council, said: "I am disappointed because I think the buildings will be out of character with the area and it is quite an intensive development involving a lot of traffic."

In the decision over Hillside, planning bosses agreed with residents who wanted the proposed access changed because of traffic dangers.

District and parish councillor Anne Hawkesworth said: "The second Crest Homes access is an improvement on the first one which was dangerous."

Coun Hawkesworth said that ideally the existing access to the building should have been considered. It was discounted because it would mean vehicles using common land, not belonging to the building.

Crest Homes (Northern) managing director Tony Vincent said: "We anticipate being on the site at Westwood in the first week of June. We have no date yet for submitting the main site plans - it will not be before the end of May."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.