Showjumper Harvey Smith's plans to dump tons of rubble on a meadow close to the Bingley South Bog have been put on ice following an outcry from conservationists.

The scheme to raise the grazing meadow next to the Fisherman's pub at Dowley Gap Lane using materials excavated during building work on the Bingley Relief Road had been recommended for approval by Bradford Council planning officers.

Consent for the scheme was recommended subject to an ecological survey being carried out and any important species being transplanted off the site, which is owned by Mr Smith, to a suitable environment.

But yesterday the Council's planning (Shipley area) sub-committee agreed to put off making a decision until after such a survey had been carried out.

And with the important species of grasses and wild flowers said by some conservationists to exist on the site not expected to be evident before spring, the survey will not be carried out until next June.

Objections to the scheme, which could result in up to 20,000 cubic metres of rubble being moved to the site, have been received from seven interested parties, including local residents and conservation groups.

Speaking at the meeting Councillor Colin Gill (Con, Bingley) said: "The meadow dates from when the canal was built in the 18th century and is the kind of enclosure which is now very rare.

"It's only 200 yards from Bingley South Bog and although we're not quite sure precisely what lives there, there is some evidence that there are some fairly rare species and there needs to be a survey before we go any further.''

Chartered surveyor Paul Kirkman, representing Harvey Smith at the meeting, said no actual evidence of rare species being on the site had been produced.

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