A trio of Leeds councillors have urged Bradford Council to re-think a key document outlining growth and development plans up to 2028.

Councillors Colin Campbell, Graham Kirkland and Ryk Downes, who all represent the Otley and Yeadon ward on Leeds City Council, say the Local Development Framework (LDF) core strategy will have a negative impact on the Wharfe Valley and their own ward, even though it only covers the Bradford district.

The trio say an influx of up to 3,100 new homes in the Wharfe Valley, as proposed by Bradford Council, could not be supported by current infrastructure, including the traffic system and would “detract from the valley’s open and impressive landscape”.

Their opposition to the Bradford LDF proposals, comes after it was confirmed their own council would be formally objecting to the LDF plans specifically regarding homes planned for Menston and Holme Wood.

Coun Campbell, who wrote to Bradford Council on behalf of his colleagues, said the LDF fails to answer several questions. He said: “We are however concerned that the LDF fails to identify how the large scale developments proposed could be made sustainable.”

“The valley is served by a rail line but this is at capacity (and at certain times beyond capacity), for most of the day. There are no indications that any funding for expanded services will be available during the plan period.

“The current highway network is also under strain and again at certain times of the day is well above capacity.

“Again the plan fails to identify how the issues of congestion on the road network in the larger area will be dealt with.

“We have a further concern that problems on the A65 corridor will push traffic onto the A660/659 route through the lower Wharfe Valley.

“There also seems to be limited indication of how sustainability with regard to schools/services etc will be addressed.”

The councillors also claim the Wharfe Valley’s natural beauty could come under threat if the plans were pushed through.

“The middle Wharfe Valley is both an important recreation area for residents of West Yorkshire and has three important landscape areas – Otley Chevin, Ilkley Moor, Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” Coun Campbell said.

“The proposals would erode the green belt in the valley and increase the tendency for settlements to coalesce. This would detract from the valley’s open and impressive landscape. We would therefore ask that the proposals are reviewed.”

The deadline for public consultation of the LDF plan is Monday, January 20.

For more details, go to Bradford Council’s website at bradford.gov.uk/ldf.