AN appeal for Ilkley residents to pinpoint vacant sites has sent a shudder down the spine of parish councillor Barbara Cussons.

Coun Cussons (Con, Ilkley North) said it might not be helpful to point out vacant sites to Bradford Council as part of its district-wide Vacant Urban Land Survey.

"I am frightened to death," she said. "I do not think we should help sell off our heritage," she told colleagues at Monday evening's parish council meeting.

Following the Vacant Urban Land Survey, 11 sites have been identified in Ilkley as 'vacant.'

The council's definition of vacant is 'not in beneficial use.' Sites identified include an area off Stockeld Road (categorised as mown grass - little beneficial use) and two sites in Curly Hill. Rough grass sites in Kings Road and Queens Drive have also been listed by council officers.

The survey identified 260 undeveloped sites not currently

earmarked for any purpose. Bradford Council has said there is public concern that insufficient attempts are made to develop available land in urban areas, especially previously developed sites.

The council hopes the research and public consultation will help increase the re-use of previously developed urban land (brownfield sites) for housing, business use, community buildings or as public open space.

The authority now wants to hear what people think should happen to the land, including whether it should remain vacant.

Coun Kate Brown (Con, Menston) is chairman of the parish council's planning committee.

She said: "Obviously we will have to study all the sites on the list in detail. We will have to examine the size, whether they are already in the UDP or protected areas."

"Obviously, we don't want to lose all our open spaces," she said.

Coun Latiff Darr, chairman of Bradford Council's Transport-ation, Planning and Design committee, said: "We actively encourage developers to make greater use of brownfield sites instead of always looking at greenfield areas and this consultation process will help us to identify all undeveloped land in urban areas for possible future use."

He said: "This is a chance for everyone to be involved in the planning process and have their say on what these sites should be used for and tell us if we have missed out any sites."

Coun Audrey Brand (Con, Menston) said: "I believe people should take this opportunity to look at these sites and make their opinions known to Bradford."

Residents can look at detailed plans for every ward in the district at area planning offices (including Ilkley). They can also check the exact addresses and current uses of individual sites - from inner city land to areas in rural wards.

Questionnaires can be filled in and should be returned to Bradford Council by Tuesday December 1. Any comments received will then be reported back to Coun Darr's committee and considered as part of the first review of the district's adopted Unitary Development Plan (UDP).

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