PEOPLE in Wharfedale are being urged to support local businesses to prevent them being converted into housing.

Burley-in-Wharfedale's Chamber of Trade is so worried about the loss of commercial property that it has appointed a specific planning officer to scrutinise planning applications.

The secretary of the Chamber of Trade, Roger Charnley, said he was fully behind the Wharfedale Newspapers campaign to support local businesses.

He said: "We could lose businesses by the back door due to change of use."

Members of the chamber vowed to 'forcefully and robustly' resist planning applications for a change of use from commercial to residential properties.

Chamber of Trade chairman Peter Settle told a meeting of the management committee: "We want a village, not a glorified housing estate.

"A vibrant village community needs a thriving commercial centre and if present trends continue Burley will become a glorified housing estate in a few years time.

At the meeting Wharfedale district councillor Matt Palmer promised to try to represent the views of the chamber but he pointed out that the planners could only refuse permission for residential development on planning grounds.

Controversy has been caused in the village by a planning application to convert the MCC Garages and Otley Carpet Mills site on Main Street into housing.

When the plan was first submitted, more than 60 letters of objection were received by planners from residents, local councillors and Burley Community Council.

Parish councillor Caroline Jones urged people to support local businesses but she stopped short of opposing all housing applications for commercial premises.

Coun Jones said: "Businesses are fine as long as they are going to be viable - the businesses we have at the moment seem to be successful and I would not want any of them to go, but it is market driven."

She said that house building generated more customers for some businesses and allowed their continued existence, but she said she understood why the Chamber of Trade would want to campaign against change of use planning applications for commercial properties.

She said: "Every case should be taken on its own merits. If there isn't a business which wants to go into a property then I can see it is going to go for housing, subject to planning regulations.

"We have to take account of all the issues, there is not point having a business if it is not going to be viable."

Holgate Developments, of Ilkley, wants to build three four-bedroomed and four three-bedroomed houses on the Main Street site. The scheme is expected to come before the Shipley Area Planning Committee in the next few weeks.

Burley Chamber of Trade member Peter Bennet has been appointed to scrutinise future planning applications to assess their impact on local business.