TWO councillors who became embroiled in a 'houses only for the rich' rumpus on the Ilkley College site have hit back at accusations of elitism.

The Gazette reported exclusively last week that Councillors Anne Hawkesworth and Martin Smith had privately opposed a suggestion that Crest Homes include a percentage of 'affordable' house in its plans to build houses on the site.

They were accused of being petty-minded snobs after suggesting that a council-owned site off Leeds Road would be more suitable for 'affordable' housing than a site close to the moors.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "The position indicated by Crest Homes for affordable/social housing was not on college land, it was extra land bought from the council, but a buffer area between the college and the moorland. Indeed, the farthest, most remote and prominent position possible to the moorland.

"It was this site I did not consider the best location for high-density housing from planning and practical grounds."

As well as reiterating her belief the a site off Leeds Road could be suitable for social housing, Coun Hawkesworth said that another area of affordable housing could be included within the site but nearer the town.

"Both these alternatives would be better for people who are elderly or infirm, and families with young children, who are possibly without access to a car during the day. They would be nearer the shops, schools and public transport," Coun Hawkesworth said.

She added: "The site has to work for Ilkley and I will make it quite clear that I know there is an obvious need for housing that youngsters can afford to buy and get a foot on the rung.

"Indeed, my son is coming to that stage and will find it very difficult to buy a house here and will, no doubt, unless he's lucky and manages to get one of the houses in question, look towards other areas nearby for his 'starter home.' Many of us were forced to do the same." Councillor Smith said his suggestion to use the Leeds Road site would mean between 25 and 30 affordable houses being built rather than ten on the Ilkley college site.

He said: "This proposal is common sense where the sale value of high value homes supports starter homes and where we can increase the number almost twofold. Affordable housing needs to be near services, buses, trains, shops, schools, not halfway up on the moor. They need to be accessible."

Coun Smith disputed Labour Councillor Roy Fox's claim that the Leeds Road site could take around three years to develop.

"This is nonsense. My information is that the sale document will be available within months and a concessionary sale to a housing association would be possible without tendering for the site," Coun Smith said.

He also said that he was involved in 15 cases of Ilkley people wishing to transfer back to Ilkley to be near dependent relatives. Coun Smith said that people were frustrated by Bradford's council housing points system which he claimed resulted in people from outside the district being given homes in Ilkley.

"My proposal for Leeds Road is a system to rectify this bias against Ilkley people," Coun Smith said.

l Reaction to the councillors' original comments in Your Comment - Page 6.

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