EMERGENCY access, log-jammed roads and overwhelmed infrastructure were among issues raised by local residents at a public inquiry into a proposed 440 development in Bingley at City Hall yesterday.

A major concern is a proposed new pedestrian crossing system to cope with increased vehicles from the Sty Lane site, which would mean a new lights system at the junction of Micklethwaite Lane and Keighley Road.

During the morning session of the eight-day hearing before government inspector George Baird, highways expert John Lowe for anti-development campaigners Greenhill Action Group gave his opinion of the planned crossing which is aimed to help traffic flow.

He said crossing from the Keighley Road post office to the village bakery could possibly take nearly four minutes due to waiting times imposed by the new traffic signals.

"Pedestrians will be severely inconvenienced, it won't make it better for pedestrians at all.

"But, it will not happen, people will not wait, they will take the risk and walk across," Mr Lowe said.

Crossflatts resident Janet Payne, speaking on behalf of the village society, said they were concerned for the safety of elderly pedestrians.

"Crossflatts is the area which will be most affected by this development and it doesn't have the road network to cope," she said.

"The composition of the local population has not been considered. Many of our residents are well into their 80s and live in sheltered accommodation on Micklethwaite Lane and Canal Road and their daily situation involved visiting the post office or shops.

"Also we have have two schools and children are notoriously careless as the stream out of the gates," Mrs Payne said.

Ken Knight, secretary of the Micklethwaite village society highlighted fears over traffic congestion and the use of a swing bridge over the Leeds and Liverpool Canal as the main entrance and exit to the estate.

"There are serious issues with the current traffic levels which would worsen. We consider the use of the swing bridge to be totally unsuitable."

Greenhill Action Group member Richard Kunz presented comprehensive evidence including video footage, to show how frequently the bridge is used to allow narrowboats along the canal, resulting in traffic tailbacks.

Other residents said that ambulance services already struggle to reach Micklethwaite within stipulated call-out times and also that simple infrastructure such as sewerage systems were already overloaded.

Ward Councillor Mark Shaw called for a balance to be struck between any need for more houses and the need to preserve green spaces.

"This green field is not a building site...we need to keep so residents' children and grand children can have the same fond memories that make me so passionate about where I've grown up," said Cllr Shaw (Con, Bingley).

And Councillor John Pennington (Con, Bingley) told the inquiry: "this application is madness, it will cause chaos for decades."