Campaigners fearful of a housing development on the site of an old reservoir are calling for the land to be preserved as an open space for local people.

But Yorkshire Water, which owns the former Baildon Bank Lower Reservoir, looks set to sell the site for housing.

Residents at the Upper Baildon and Tong Park Neighbourhood Forum heard Shipley MP Chris Leslie had called on the water company to resist selling the 2.8 hectare site for development.

People living near the site off West Lane, designated housing land in Bradford's Unitary Development Plan, fear up to 70 homes could be built there.

Although no application has yet been submitted, members of the West Lane Action Group fear the effect any development could have on people's quality of life; the balance between developed land and the Green Belt; and traffic.

They believe the site should remain undeveloped. If houses are to be built, they say the development should be carried out sensitively Mr Leslie said: "It's a valuable piece of green space and I've written to Yorkshire Water urging them to consider setting it aside as a wildlife area and dedicated public open space. If they agree not to sell the land and preserve it they'll gain immense public gratitude.''

Action group chairman Kevin McHugh said: "Because of the high cost of dismantling the lower reservoir and developing the site the gain to Yorkshire Water will be marginal - the onus is on them and if they decline or refuse to develop it the site could remain undeveloped.''

Neil Pinner, property agent to Yorkshire Water, said water companies watchdog Ofwat regulations included an obligation to seek best value when disposing of surplus assets.

But when Yorkshire Water directors were in a position to progress residents would be consulted.

Yorkshire Water asset manager Andrew Robertshaw said no final decision on the site's future would be taken until investigation work - being carried out to ensure any development would not compromise the safety of the company's still in use upper reservoir - had been completed.

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