A campaign has been launched to save an ancient moorland war relic.

The monument threatened by development is the Baden Powell carving on Holden Gate bridleway, off Silsden Road, Riddlesden.

Hilary Simpson, secretary of Riddlesden & District Bridleways Group, has written to Bradford council planners on behalf of members demanding to know its future.

Planners this week pledged that the stone would not be damaged.

The group's concerns follow a planning application to surface the bridleway to make it into an access road leading to an Orange mobile phone mast further up the track.

Members believe that as a war memorial the flat rock carving - situated very near the start of the route - should not be destroyed. The stone lies a mile from Mrs Simpson's home in Ilkley Road, Riddlesden.

"As I understand it, the carving was made by members of the 15th Scottish regiment stationed in Keighley early into World War II," she says.

"It has already been damaged by a vehicle with caterpillar tracks since the Orange tower was erected and may just vanish into obscurity once the surfacing work is done. It would be such a shame."

Baden Powell founded the Scout Association and was a respected military officer.

After walking the proposed route for the access road last weekend, another point has been brought up by the group concerning the type of surfacing to be used as tarmac and concrete are said to be unsuitable for horses.

"Tarmac would be like a skating rink for horses and concrete would be even worse," says Mrs Simpson. "Crushed limestone is best."

But a spokesman for Bradford council's Keighley planning office says: "As part of the planning application being considered, any material used to resurface part of the bridleway at Holden Gate would have to be appropriate for horses to ride on.

"The Baden Powell rock on the bridleway would be unaffected by any development."

The deadline for objections to the application is today.

If anyone can shed any light on why the 15th Scottish Regiment would choose to commemorate Baden Powell, or has any more information on the carving, they should telephone reporter Katie Frearson on 01535 696611.

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