HORSFORTH Social Club's revamp hopes have suffered a surprise setback because of fears about a rise in anti-social behaviour.

The club has been trying for more than a year to get linked plans approved which would see its Hall Lane building partially demolished and refurbished and houses built on the car park. It claims the scheme is vital to ensuring the historic venue's future.

Last Thursday Leeds Plans Panel (West) had been recommended to approve a scaled down scheme, which would see two, rather than three detached houses constructed. Although the original plan was opposed by the Town Council, Civic Society and ward councillors, only two objections were lodged against the amended proposals.

But the panel was impressed by a plea from Hall Park Avenue resident John Greenwood, who spoke of the fears he and his neighbours had. Mr Greenwood, whose back garden would face directly onto a row of car parking behind the new houses, said his land had already been 'ransacked' by youths on numerous occasions.

He said: "We have strongly opposed the plans from the beginning. Firstly because of the loss of car parking provision and also because of the serious problems with anti-social behaviour from youths gathering in the footpath by the side at nights.

"We have had vandalism, nuisance and several attempted burglaries.

"We feel that the proposed plans would make this worse than before by locating virtually half of the car park between our property and the houses and enclosing part of the footpath (which runs down the side of the site from Hall Lane to Hall Park Avenue).

"The existing footpath is an ideal escape route for criminal behaviour and we feel its enclosure will make it worse, not to mention the noise disruption which would be amplified by vehicles being parked close to our property.

"We suggest some people will not use this area of car parking either (because of fears about theft from damage to their cars) and would park on Hall Lane itself. I hope you can appreciate our concerns."

He claimed that residents has also been disturbed by late night collections from the club and of instances of guests drinking on the parking area.

Councillor Tom Leadley suggested that moving the new houses back, so their gardens faced directly onto the Hall Park Avenue homes, and re-arranging the parking might be a way forward.

Chairman Councillor Colin Campbell (Lib Dem, Otley and Yeadon) agreed, but said the tricky part would be doing so without losing too many parking spaces. He said: "The one thing that strikes you is that putting a car park behind is never really a good idea.

"Could we move the houses into a straight line and so 'fill in' the back corner which seems to be the potential security problem?"

Principal Planning Officer Martin Sellens, however, warned the panel that it had taken a lot of negotiations to get the plans to this stage.

"We've had a struggle to get this far with the club," he said, "it's taken us eight or nine months and I'd be reluctant for us to 'go backwards'."

Coun Campbell said: "If this development does take place in this form we want to make sure it doesn't contribute to the problems the footpath currently causes the neighbours.

"We're not happy with this as it stands and are going to have to ask officers to go and look at the alternatives.

"But I don't think we can accept it if the only way we can move the houses is to lose a significant amount of parking."

The panel agreed to defer making a decision whilst the alternatives are explored. If moving the houses is found to not be feasible, planning officers have been asked to look at adding low level lighting and a 'robust' boundary between the parking area and Hall Park Avenue.