Menston is facing the loss of Green Belt and a massive impact on its infrastructure with the proposals to allow an extra 450 houses to be built there.

The news is being branded "appalling" by Wharfedale councillor Chris Greaves who is warning of dire consequences for the area.

Under the UDP, development would be allowed on two sites which are presently included in the green belt.

The extra 450 houses would be in addition to around 550 homes already planned for the former High Royds site.

And the sheer scale of the development is simply too much for the area to cope with, according to Coun Greaves.

He said: "We are talking about 350 houses - that means in round terms 1,000 people and 500 cars. It is going to cause huge infrastructure problems."

He warned that there would not be enough local school places for the vastly increased community. And he argued the A65 would need to be extended to a three or four lane road in order to cope with the extra traffic.

Coun Greaves stressed that the area already had a large number of developments including High Royds, Silver Cross and White Cross.

He believes Menston is suffering because the area is on the cusp of two local authorities.

"I have no proof of this but I suspect that the inspector might have been given a boundary to look at for Bradford and forgotten what is happening over the wall in Leeds," he said.

"They have looked at Bradford but have not looked at the wider picture."

He warned that the scale of development would not only mean massive infrastructure problems and the "tragic" loss of green belt, but also the loss of identity for local communities.

"What we are going to see is an urban sprawl where Guiseley becomes Menston and Menston becomes Guiseley," he said.

And he stressed: "The thing is we cannot cope with another 1,000 people living in Menston. It is appalling news."