Villagers are celebrating after a Government inspector turned down controversial plans to build up to 70 houses in Wilsden.

The proposed development on land off Crack Lane caused alarm when revealed by the Telegraph & Argus in October last year.

One hundred and thirty six objections were received, including one from Wilsden Village Society, which feared that the development next to Birkshead Mill would destroy the village's identity.

Bradford Council turned the application down on highways grounds and a public inquiry was held into the plans in March.

Now Inspector Alan Boyland has dismissed the appeal by Allied Textile Companies, saying: "On the main issue the proposed development would cause unacceptable harm to the safety and convenience of road users."

Company spokesman Barbara Brownridge said: "It's not helpful and I'm very surprised. Unless there is some error in his judgement I do not see how we can take this any further."

Martin Harrison, chairman of the village society, was jubilant, saying: "This is absolutely wonderful. Clearly, the inspector has recognised the need to ensure that when developments of this nature are planned that the necessary infrastructure to support them must be put in place by the proposed developers. The result of the inquiry means the retention of an important area of greenery close to the heart of the village."

Shipley area planning officer Peter Bridgman said: "Obviously the inspector has accepted the Council's case and we are pleased with that."

Resident were worried that if the plans had gone ahead Wilsden would have ended up as part of an enormous urban sprawl and its attraction as a village would disappear.

The future of the seven-acre site of grazing land is still unclear. The inspector at the unitary district plan inquiry accepted it was a suitable housing site so the issue of development is not one of principle.

But Allied was unwilling to carry out highways improvements to the Crack Lane/Lingfield Road junction which the Council considered essential.

Ms Brownridge told the T&A in October that the improvements would involve acquiring land which neither the Council nor Allied owned and which there was no possibility of buying.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.