SIR – Your Leader (T&A, September 24) is correct in implying that the decision of six councillors to throw out the Sty Lane development could be but a transient and hollow victory.
There is no way that the developers are going to acquiesce, foregoing the massive potential profit from building 440 houses on a greenfield site.
They will appeal citing the recommended approval of Julian Jackson, the Council’s assistant director of planning, and the site’s designation for housing in the RUDP.
The Government inspector on this evidence will favour the developer, and approval will be likely on more advantageous terms.
Our councillors are therefore hoist to the RUDP designation, which consensus accepts to be flawed.
They must instruct their employee Mr Jackson not to perpetuate an error and charge him with finding legitimate reasons for this housing designation to be negated and the land reconfirmed as green belt.
A precedent was established when the RUDP designation was overruled to give approval to New Victoria Place, and by the same token it must be possible to overrule the RUDP to deny a development.
One must presume it is not beyond the capabilities of our planners to find means of fulfilling the democratic wishes of our elected representatives.
John Pashley, Westcliffe Avenue, Baildon
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