PLANS to build 17 homes in an exclusive part of Horsforth are being opposed by residents and councillors.

They feel the building of the houses would be an intrusion of their privacy, would mean increased traffic in the area, a loss of open space and there would be a mess in the street while the building work was being carried out.

Wild Bennett Homes Ltd., the developers, want to build the four-bedroomed houses between West End Grove and the main Rawdon Road.

The scheme involves both the demolition of a detached house in West End Grove to provide access and the use of part of the garden and land belonging to another house which is up for sale.

Leeds City Council has already received a number of objections.

Peter Menzies of West End Grove, said he thought what they intended to do was atrocious. "They hope to have a main road leading into the proposed estate which is less than two metres away from my kitchen," he said.

"It will mean we will have to reverse our car out of our drive into a busy junction.

"My wife and I have lived in West End Grove for 15 years and it is a pleasant area. I am not alone in objecting to the plan. The houses will spoil our outlook. They are to be built up to our back garden and we will be looking out onto a blank wall instead of open fields," he added.

Ethel Jackson, of West End Grove, says if the scheme goes ahead more cars would be using West End Grove which would mean more pollution. "We have been in touch with Paul Truswell MP who has intimated he is supporting our objection to the proposed development," she said.

Constance Holloway, who has lived in West End Grove for 40 years, feels another green area would be lost to the village if the proposed development was given approval.

Coun Chris Townsley (Lib-Dem, Horsforth) said he had had about eight objections from residents and Leeds City Council had had even more. He said: "I don't think the development should be allowed to take place because it is going to mean that at least three dozen more cars will be using West End Grove which is already congested."

A spokesman for Wild Bennett Homes Ltd., confirmed his firm had recently submitted a planning application to construct 17 detached houses on land to the rear of 35 and 39 West End Grove.

"The scheme is within the current development limits for Horsforth as set out in the Unitary Development Plan, therefore objections raised in relation to the principle of the development on the site are invalid.

"The scheme will add to the council's overall housing contribution as a windfall site.

"Pre-application discussions have been held with the highway authority and no objections were raised in relation to either the principal access to the site of the capacity of the surrounding road network to cope with the development."

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