Campaigners fighting the building of a 110-house estate in north Otley have won the support of the town's MP.

More than 80 residents living near the proposed 4.9 hectare green belt site between Meagill Rise and Rumplecroft heard Harold Best MP pledge his opposition to the scheme at a public meeting.

They also heard Leeds city councillor for Otley and Wharfedale Philip Coyne say he would make sure local residents were involved in the planning process to make the best out of any development.

The meeting heard that an outline planning application for housing had been submitted by Taywood Homes to Leeds City Council ahead of a government inspector's report into the area's planning blueprint, the Leeds Unitary Development Plan.

The inspector's report, which could be out at the end of the year, is expected to recommend that the land be taken out of the green belt for housing to help satisfy the massive demand in Leeds.

But nearby residents say the development would have a disastrous effect on roads and safety in their area.

They are worried about the increased amount of traffic, particularly across Otley Bridge, the loss of valuable green space and the impact on services such as drainage. And they have launched a poster and letter campaign to encourage as many people as possible to write their objections to Leeds Council.

Mr Best said: "The development raises hazards for people in the immediate vicinity. The road network is inadequate and I hope we don't see injuries to young people. There are also concerns about the infrastructure in general and, as far as it is possible, we should defend as much of our green space as we can in our area."

Mr Best added he was very impressed with the strength of local feeling towards the proposed development.

"There was a wonderful turnout at the meeting. I was very impressed to put it mildly to see such a community commitment. Ordinary people were being very calm and very deliberate," he added.

Mike Clerk, chairman of Residents' Against Greenbelt Erosion (RAGE), said residents were being encouraged to object both to the development and to the area being taken out of the greenbelt.

"We are asking people to write to Taywood Homes and to Leeds City Council and to display our posters and car stickers," he said.

RAGE plans to hold another public meeting either next month or in October.

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