THE once busy high streets and town and village centres could soon become a thing of the past if shops are allowed to close and the buildings turned into offices.

In some parts of Aireborough and Horsforth banks, building societies and travel agencies have moved into the high streets where the local butcher, grocer, baker and dressmaker once flourished.

In some cases these long established businesses have succumbed to the supermarket .

This week new fears have been expressed by Horsforth villagers, local councillors and members of the civic society when it became aware that two applications had been submitted to Leeds City Council for change of use from shop premises to offices in the New Road Side area of the village.

They feel, quite rightly so, that if the applications are granted then this will be yet another nail in New Road Side's coffin.

This once thriving shopping area, has suffered in recent years. Shops have closed down and offices have appeared in their place. Admittedly, the blame is partly in the hands of villagers who have failed to support their local traders, but if the closures do not cease then some villagers, particularly the elderly, are going to face hardship.

Pensioners, will be faced with an uphill journey across the busy Broadway road, to Town Street, where there are still plenty of shops, or they will have to catch a bus to Leeds.

Those living in the vicinity of New Road Side, who will make their shopping journey to Town Street by car, will only add to the congestion in Horsforth's Town Street, where there is already a lack of parking or they will help clog up the main road into Leeds and cause further parking problems in the city.

There is a lack of adequate car parking in new Road Side - indeed throughout Horsforth - and unless city planners come up with an idea on how to provide this much needed facility then the car owning villagers will not only desert New Road Side but Horsforth as a whole. There is a similar problem in Yeadon and Guiseley although not as marked.

The three Horsforth councillors have been calling for more car parking in Horsforth, particularly New Road Side, for many months but still the problem has not been solved.

Granted the problem is a difficult one but someone will have to grasp this particular nettle if Horsforth as a shopping centre is to continue.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.