THE decision was taken for all the right reasons. But we believe it was still the wrong one.

We refer to the decision to build on a field in Skipton between the canal and Horse Close estate. It is, the councillors intimated, an exception to the rule of trying to preserve areas of greenery in the town.

Unfortunately these exceptions seem to have a nasty habit of cropping up all too frequently and this is not a particularly glamourous route into the town. Any further reduction in its greenery is to be mourned.

The arguments for building on the land were all laudable and entirely valid. These houses will release homes for others, it is already a quiet site for the elderly and the road access problems can be overcome.

And yet it is a story which we have heard all too often as parcels of land are swallowed up by bricks and mortar.

There have been some attractive developments in Skipton in recent years, turning ugly or derelict sites into prestige homes. Surely somewhere could have been found for something similar. We respect the motives, but this will detract from the town's environment.

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