LEEDS planners were today recommending the approval of one of the largest building developments in Wharfedale's history.

Councillors sitting on Leeds Plans Panel (West), who are being advised by officers to accept the 560-home proposal for High Royds when they meet at 1.30pm today, went on a site visit to the former psychiatric hospital yesterday.

The Raven Group's five-year redevelopment plan has sparked debate among the local community, with many fearing it is too big and could cause traffic chaos on the A65.

Aireborough MP Paul Truswell, road safety and conservation groups and Bradford Council are among those who have raised serious concerns - and Leeds City Council has received 646 letters of objection.

But others, including members of Leeds Plans Panel (West), Leeds Civic Trust and the Chairman of Otley and District Chamber of Trade have praised the positive aspects of the multi-million pound proposals.

Guiseley and Menston Green Belt Action Group (GAMGBAG) had objected to the sheer scale of the project. But Vice Chairman Graham Hoult says he is now resigned to the scheme going ahead - and acknowledges there would be some 'plus points' for the area if that happened.

He said: "The development at High Royds seems inevitable, and the last thing anybody wants is for the site to go to rack and ruin and not be used.

"There's no doubt that Raven and their associates have put a highly impressive bid together. But our concern remains about the quantity, not the quality, of the development.

"Local people may be paying the price for that later in terms of increased traffic and demands on their facilities.

"But it could have been a lot worse. If the planning officers' recommendations are accepted then a big, white elephant site will get a new lease of life and the council will receive a net income from the site in the future, in terms of all the new council tax. Who knows, maybe they'll use some of it on improvements to the roads!"

But member of parliament Mr Truswell said he still hoped the scheme could be reduced in scale.

"I am disappointed, though not surprised, that the planning officers are recommending acceptance" he said. "But that does not automatically mean it will go through. People have submitted almost 650 indivi-dual letters of objection, mainly on grounds of traffic congestion, rat-running, inadequate local public transport, and pressure on services.

"That is not something to be taken lightly. This proposal, while it has many good aspects, is still unsust-ainable and over-intensive overall.

"I hope this is something that Councillors may focus on rather more critically than officers."

Meanwhile, David Calver-ley, a member and former chairman of Menston Comm-unity Association (MCA), said the group would be happy to see the scheme go ahead as long as the traffic issues were addressed.

He said: "I have no idea how the decision today will go, but the MCA has said in the past that we are not unhappy with The Raven Group's development, provided that the requirements of Shipley Area Panel, in terms of improvements being made to the A65, are fully satisfied."

Those backing the plans point out that the hospital's Grade II listed buildings would be preserved and its parkland landscaped, maintained, and made more accessible. And both sides seem to agree that having around 1,000 more residents in Menston should bring economic benefits.

A total of 139 affordable properties, health care facilities, a nursery, pond and wildlife area, and a communal orchard are all included in The Raven Group's plans, along with a 35,000 tree planting project.

The developer also intends to add a range of new leisure attractions, including:

l A sports pavilion

l The renovation of two football pitches

l A bowling green.

Keen to allay residents' fears, they have also vowed to spend £1.25 million on road and junction improvements to reduce the impact of all the new homes on traffic flow along the A65.

Today's meeting could see the plans approved in principle, subject to a range of conditions being met and referral to the Secretary of State But Bradford Council could force the case to go to a public inquiry if it remains unsatisfied with the measures being taken to keep traffic flowing around the new development.

Meanwhile, a survey commissioned by The Raven Group which suggested traffic increase following the development would be much less than feared was backed this week by an independent highways expert.

l Background to High Royds development - page 4.