THREE planning hotspots will come under the scrutiny of councillors on Tuesday during a visit to Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Members of Leeds City Council's plans west sub-committee will be investigating sites at Swallow Drive, Arthington Lane and the White Hart pub before deciding the future of each bid later in the day.

Each application has caused controversy among Pool residents. Almost 500 have registered their opposition to a bid by Redrow Homes to build 100 houses at Swallow Drive. The move has also been rejected by the parish council.

It has also opposed a plan to extend facilities at the White Hart pub, which is feels would over-develop the site, create parking problems and increase litter and pollution.

The party, including Otley and Wharfedale councillors John Eveleigh and Colin Campbell, will also visit disused warehouses on Arthington Lane, which could be turned into offices.

Decisions on the proposals were deferred at a committee meeting on February 24 when councillors agreed they needed more information before granting or refusing permission.

They will meet at Swallow Drive at 9.50am before visiting the Arthington Lane warehouses at 10.15am. The visit will finish at the White Hart pub at 10.30am. But one resident, Kenneth Shaw, has attacked the programme of visits, which he says are too quick to allow proper consideration.

An active campaigner against the over-development of Pool, Mr Shaw organised his own petition against the Swallow Drive proposal. He said: "How can anybody weigh the situation up in 15 minutes?"

"I think it is just a formality and they really should be giving more time to what are very serious issues."

And he vowed to meet up with the delegation to urge them to consider each application with the utmost care. The site visits will be followed by the plans west sub-committee meeting at Leeds Civic Hall at 2pm.

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