AN independent drainage expert is to weigh in on a row over whether developing green fields would increase the risk of flooding in Menston.

But the expert is to be paid by an action group fighting the development, leading some to question just how independent he or she will be.

Menston Action Group (MAG) has been battling the development of land off Bingley Road, where Taylor Wimpey wants to build 137 homes, for four years.

One of MAG's key objections is the claim that building homes on the site would exacerbate drainage problems in the area, with experts polarised on the matter.

Yesterday, the Council's Regulatory and Appeals Committee met to decide whether to approve the planning application or not.

During a three-hour discussion, the meeting heard that Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and the Council's own drainage boss Tony Poole all agreed with the developer that a sufficient drainage scheme for the site could be incorporated in the design.

But drainage expert, Professor David Rhodes, who opposes the scheme, told the meeting they were not taking into account the issue of ground water emergence, meaning their conclusion was "materially flawed".

Now MAG has offered to pay for an independent advisor to write a report to be considered by the planning committee before it makes a decision.

MAG's lawyer, Chris Schofield of Schofield Sweeney, said: "It's a fact that resources in the council are stretched and officers have to rely on the applicant's advisors, who are of course not independent."

He said MAG was proposing to pay for an independent drainage expert, who would be appointed by an independent body such as the Royal Society.

The council's legal advisor, Tim Driver, said that would be possible, although the committee could not commit to abiding by the findings of the report.

Wharfedale ward councillors Gerry Barker (Con) and Dale Smith (Con) both urged the committee to accept the deal.

Cllr Barker said: "It would be a way forward from this impasse that currently seems to exist."

And Cllr Smith added: "Cllr Barker and I both believe that the Menston village is about to become the victim of a grave injustice."

But planning officer John Eyles sounded a note of caution.

He said the independence of an expert paid by MAG could well be questioned by the developer.

He said: "I have to say, the independent person in this room is Mr Poole and his team. I'm sorry, but that is the case."

Mr Driver agreed, adding: " Officers don't care about the ultimate decision being made. Their view is completely independent. It is based on policy, it is based on their professional expertise and experience. That is what we pay them for."

And Mark Johnson, agent for Taylor Wimpey, also argued that the move was unnecessary.

He said they had already won the backing of Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and the Council's own drainage team.

He said: "We have spent a year and a half looking at this drainage issue."

But the committee decided to opt for the plan.

Committee member Councillor Doreen Lee said: "I think it's about time we had somebody who's not connected personally either with the village or from yourselves to come along and tell us, because personally, I'm getting fed up of the whole thing."

The matter was deferred to January to allow for the expert to be found and the new report to be drawn up.