A GROUP of Skipton residents is fighting plans to build new houses right on their doorstep.

An application has been lodged with Craven District Council to build four, three bedroom houses on land up Otley Road.

Krystina White described it as "speculative housing" because there was no real need for the homes.

She said Skipton was big enough and would start to lose its charm if it grew much more.

Mrs White added that Skipton would lose its tree-lined route into the town that made it attractive at the moment.

"It would be a retrograde step to allow house development to infringe any further into what is essentially a green field site. It would represent ribbon development, an environmental scourge which hopefully has been banished to the past," she said.

Mrs White added that she enjoyed her view of the trees and fields from her front window and did not see any justifiable reason why that should be spoilt by unnecessary housing.

The plans for two semi-detached blocks with gardens and garages are expected to fit between the roadside and the beck.

The plans also include a two metre wide footpath in front of the houses onto Otley Road, and a one way vehicle access running from Otley Road behind the houses and back onto the road.

Several garages on the site, leased by Otley Road residents, might also be pulled down to make way for the houses.

More than 20 people have signed a petition opposing the application and a number of individuals have sent letters to the council.

However, resident Celia Watkins, whose house would look directly out onto the new development, thinks the houses would be a big improvement to the site.

She said at the moment it was run down and frequently used as an unauthorised turning point for vehicles or as a dumping ground for unwanted cars and vans.

She added that the land was a brownfield site and the beck was often full of rubbish.

"I saw the plans and I see no reason why not. It will reinforce the residential status of the area," said Mrs Watkins.

But, Mrs White was concerned about the safety of motorists. She said Otley Road was narrow especially when people parked on the road side outside their homes.

"Otley Road is about 27 feet wide with no pavement to the site edge - not enough room for a car to safely remain stationary against the white line (to turn into the new site) with enough space for other vehicles to pass comfortably on the nearside. Many drivers wouldn't risk it."

Resident Donald Busfield was concerned about the increase in the volume of traffic the new houses might bring.

"It is bad enough now. It is hard enough trying to get out from the drive onto the road now," he said.

He also opposed to the style of the houses.

"The houses are like hen huts they might as well have put mobile homes on there." Mr Busfield said the homes were too small and would be cramped in between the road and the beck.

Skipton's Civic Society has opposed the application on the grounds that the properties would be too near the railway, beck and the main road, and would be squashed into the site.

The applicants are Mr and Mrs D Fothergill of Regents Drive, Skipton, but the Herald was not able to contact them before going to press.

The plan will be discussed by Craven District Council's planning committee in the next few weeks.