TOWN leaders have opposed plans to build a 'luxury village' on the site of the former Middleton Hospital - despite few objections from Ilkley people.

Ilkley Parish Council's plans committee this week declared it will oppose Hearthstead Homes' plan to create a seven-building, 34-home development on the former isolation hospital site, Carters Lane.

But despite the strength of feeling from within the council chamber, planning officers in Harrogate have received just six letters of objection to the plan.

Chairman of Ilkley Parish Council plans committee, Councillor Audrey Brand, said: "First of all, it's in an area of outstanding natural beauty, which has its own protection rights. Some of the actual dwellings are four storeys high, and it would be rather imposing."

The site stands on the edge of the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the impact of a housing development at Carters Lane was questioned at a planning inquiry over a previous planned 77-house development by Clays of Addingham.

Hearthstead Homes went into

discussions with landowner NHS Estates to buy and build on the site earlier this year.

Other concerns of the parish council included the visual intrusion from the opposite side of the valley, and the impact of more traffic on local roads.

The recent Faber Maunsell report on traffic management in Ilkley expressed concerns about any increase in traffic using the Denton Road Bridge.

And one resident sent pictures of parking on both sides of the road around the nearby Westville House School, arguing that a large development at Middleton Hospital would make traffic problems worse.

Coun Brand said it would be difficult for new residents to use public transport, as they are not within walking distance of Ilkley town centre, and claims the traffic use as a hospital was not high, as staff were transported to and from the hospital by bus.

She said a new 'Dales village' could not be made at the site as villages have a traditional character, and cannot be created, and is concerned that the development could be extended at a later date.

Coun Brand believes the lack of response is because few residents actually live around the site.

Harrogate Council planning officers said as the plan includes an

environmental aspect, the council has 16 weeks, rather than the usual eight weeks, to determine the plan. Officers have been in discussion with representatives of Nidderdale AONB, and expect responses from the organisation shortly.

The plan is expected to be determined by Harrogate District Council, and will go before a planning committee in February 2003.

A copy of the plan can be inspected by the public at the Ilkley parish clerk's office, Ilkley Town Hall. The plans are also on display in Harrogate, along with environmental impact survey documents.