Plans to build houses on the site of a wool scouring mill have been put on hold because mill owners say they are being asked to hand over too much cash.

Keighley area planning sub-committee heard yesterday that the proposed plans to build 40 new homes on the site of the Haworth Scouring in Lees Lane would not be viable because the council was asking for too big a financial contribution towards education and playspace. Planning officers had recommended the scheme but the committee deferred the decision. Cllr Jack Womersley said: "It is not fair on the people of the Worth Valley to fund the mill's proposed move to Bradford through the sale of the new houses."

He proposed further discussions should take place between council officers and mill owners to see if a reasonable contribution can be agreed on.

The mill has been at the centre of controversy. It often causes a stench and blights the lives of nearby residents. Environmental health officers say it should be demolished and the site given over to housing.

Environmental health bosses believe that the change of use of the site from industry to housing would remove the major source of the nuisance.

A council planning spokesman says: "The site, which is close to existing and proposed housing, has a significant history of environmental problems and traffic difficulties. The business involves the importation, by heavy goods vehicles, of large quantities of raw wool and the removal both of wool and liquid effluent by road tanker."

The firm's new purpose-built plant is being built in Leeds Road, Bradford, which should eliminate environmental problems and be more efficient in materials and manpower. It is due to open in August.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.