FIERCE public opposition to a housing development in Pool-in-Wharfedale is being ignored by city councillors intent on approving it, according to campaigners.

Protesters made their voices heard this week when members of Leeds' plans west sub-committee visited the Swallow Drive site earmarked for 100 houses by Redrow Homes (Yorkshire) Ltd.

But despite their vehement arguments, the committee later decided to consider a planning brief from developers before making a final decision.

Parish council chairman Chris Leggatt said the step proved the outcry was falling on deaf ears.

"What they are saying by asking for a development brief is that they have accepted it. I'm very disappointed they are not going to go against their own city council policy and accept our opinions and views.

"It seems they are totally ignoring the incremental impact of all the developments in the area and just looking at the sites in isolation.

"This is just an excuse to give the impression of placating local people while totally ignoring them," he said.

Coun Leggatt said claims that new housing was urgently needed in Pool were untrue. "The other houses in Swallow Drive have taken more than ten years to sell so there is obviously not an urgent need," he said.

However, planning officers are recommending that councillors agree the principle of the bid. They say 'special circumstances' - including the claim of housing need - are enough to put the plan to the Secretary of State for the Environment for his approval.

The development would cover 5.9 hectares of green belt land and could be called in by the Secretary of State in a public inquiry. The site is also marked as housing in the revised Leeds Unitary Development Plan (UDP) which has yet to be finalised.

At a meeting of the plans west sub-committee this week, Councillor Colin Campbell (LibDem, Otley and Wharfedale) said it would be wrong to pre-empt UDP results.

"If we did that, the message we would appear to be saying to the people of Pool is 'we're not allowing your objections to be of any value'.

"I do not think we should be looking at any application until the UDP is published. To wait until that time will not cause too much trouble to the developers." But only three councillors were in favour of his suggestion.

Councillor John Eveleigh (Lab, Otley and Wharfedale) said the site visit had left the committee little doubt over the strength of public feeling. He said a planning brief provided a good way of scrutinising how Redrow envisaged implementing their plan.

"That would give us the benefit of scrutinising the plan fully. Without it we cannot deal with the concerns adequately," he said.

In the meantime, Coun Leggatt said planners should be considering so-called brown field sites. "Why touch the green belt?

"We spent a lot of hours and money making representations to save it in the UDP, so let's have that decided," he said.

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