A DECISION is set to be taken today on a controversial plan for a £1.5m sheltered flats complex in the centre of Ilkley.

The plan, for the demolition of garage buildings at the current site of the Station Garage at Springs Lane and the construction of 27 one bedroom and 23 two bedroom sheltered flats for the elderly with car parking, has been objected to by Ilkley Parish Council.

But the plan is recommended for approval as it goes before Bradford Council's town and country planning (Keighley Area) sub-committee.

The Parish Council's concerns include that the development would be out of proportion with the majority of buildings in the surrounding area and would cause traffic problems.

The objection has meant that the plan could not be approved by planning officers alone and has had to go to the sub-committee.

But the garage owner, Tim Webster, is hopeful that the plan will be passed and he can move his Rhydding Motor Company business to another site.

Mr Webster said: "I hope that sense prevails in this. You can now see that the garage has had to close down and I would hate to see the Station Garage fall into

disrepair."

The scheme has received

support from Ilkley Civic Society which considers the design of the proposed flats to be attractive and says the development would

compliment the approach to

the town centre along Springs Lane.

The society considered that being close to the Town Centre and given the likely age of residents, the majority would not have need of car.

Conservative Bradford District Councillor for Ilkley, Ann Hawkesworth, also a parish councillor, said that the site was appropriate, but she now had fears about car maintenance facilities in the town.

Coun Hawkesworth said: "I am supportive of the officer's recommendation or appraisal, as long as they make the restrictions enforceable that these are kept specifically for the elderly.

"If they were not, I would still have concerns about car parking. We also must not forget the fact that elderly people in Ilkley do drive and the car parking is still worrying to me, but in the main it is an extremely appropriate site.

"However, where do we go for a garage? I am now very concerned about a lack of car maintenance facilities in Ilkley."

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