Yorkshire Water has been accused of wasting time and money by refusing to reveal vital information about a controversial housing scheme.

Bradford Council is angry it was not given full details about the sewerage system in Eldwick and Gilstead before a planning inquiry into plans for 400 homes which had provoked an outcry in the two villages.

Now Yorkshire Water could be forced to pay for part of the costs of the three-day inquiry, which could run into thousands of pounds. The Council had opposed the plan because it said the roads and sewerage networks in the area could not cope with so many extra homes.

But it was forced to abandon its argument after Yorkshire Water supplied fresh evidence.

The Council now accepts that the planned housing estate would not lead to further pollution in Little Beck but continues to argue that the development would adversely affect road safety in the area.

Anthony Crean, representing the Council at the inquiry, which finished at Shipley Town Hall yesterday, said Yorkshire Water had acted unreasonably by not supplying its drainage expert Christopher Wotherspoon with that information before the hearing had started.

"If he had been given the data that he sought at the time when he sought that data then these issues would not have been discussed at this inquiry."

Mr Crean was also critical that Yorkshire Water had only attended the inquiry after the Government-appointed inspector Paul Rosser threatened to apply for a subpoena from the High Court to force it to do so.

Yorkshire Water had insisted on keeping everyone in a state of ignorance and its conduct had led to unnecessary expense, Mr Crean added.

But Richard Glover, representing Yorkshire Water, said Mr Crean's claim was "wildly inaccurate". He said Yorkshire Water was a private company under no obligation to disclose documents which might be commercially sensitive.

Mr Glover added that Yorkshire Water had originally had no intention of attending the inquiry because it felt it had nothing to add.

Despite the Council's change of tack, other objectors maintained their case yesterday that the development would cause extra pollution and worsen traffic problems on local roads.

Shipley's Labour MP Chris Leslie said: "The inquiry had received more than 180 letters of objection and two petitions.

Mr Rosser will make a recommendation on whether Yorkshire Water should be forced to pay part of the cost of the inquiry when he makes his recommendation on whether the appeal should be allowed.

The final decision rests with the Environment Secretary and no announcement is expected for several weeks.

Mr Rosser was due to visit the site today with planning experts from both sides and leading objectors.

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