THE CONTROVERSIAL plan to develop Low Mill at Addingham into a wool scouring plant looks like overcoming a major hurdle despite the opposition of local residents.

The plan, by textile company Straume (UK) Ltd, will go before the Keighley area planning sub-committee on Tuesday.

Despite the objections on planning, environmental, highways and landscape grounds, officers suggest it should be approved subject to certain conditions and submitted to the transport, planning and design sub-committee for further consideration.

The recommendation is a major blow to the LMRA campaigners whose hopes for backing from Addingham Civic Society, Addingham Parish Council and MP Ann Cryer have been dashed.

Chairman of the LMRA, Linton Woodman, said members would await the planning committee decision before making a statement.

Mr Woodman said: "A few of us will be present at the meeting but we will not be fully represented as most members of the LMRA will be working."

Almost 2,000 pre-printed letters of objection to the plan collected from walkers by members of the Low Mill Residents Association (LMRA) have been lumped together as a single petition by council planners.

The Low Mill site used to house one of the oldest worsted spinning mills in the world but the present buildings date from around the 1920s.

Low Mill village, where most of the objectors live, was created from former cottages and newer houses built in the 1980s.

Although it has not been in use since the early years of this decade, supporters of the plan argue that Low Mill is a designated industrial site and Straume's plan would bring additional employment to the area.

Having examined the company's plans, the Government's Environment Agency has raised no objections.

A report to the sub-commmittee says: "The recommendation to committee is that this development is acceptable."

The scheme still faces further hurdles as it progresses through additional planning stages including a referral to the Department of the Environment where it can be called in for scrutiny.

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