PLANS to create a residential development, children's nursery and football pitch in Bradley have been turned down by Craven District Council's planning committee.

The scheme, off Matthew Lane and abutting Bradley Playing Fields, had been recommended for refusal by officers on the grounds that it was on a greenfield site outside the village's development limit.

Applicant's agent Roger Beck said the 1.07 hectare site would house a nursery for 12 babies and 38 two to five year-olds, with six or seven associated jobs.

The plans also included a 24-space car park and the reorientation of the adjoining football pitch, utilising land adjacent to the canal.

In a report to the planning committee, the applicant stated that the improved community sporting facilities could be attached to a legal agreement.

Mr Beck added that the applicants would also be willing to build bungalows instead of standard houses, as suggested by Bradley Parish Council.

The committee was told that the owners of the land, who are farmers, could not use it for grazing livestock because of the amount of litter that was thrown there.

Coun Mark Wheeler pointed out that the applicants had taken National Farmers' Union advice to diversify.

"I think this application would benefit the rural economy," he said.

However, Coun Marcia Turner told the meeting she was concerned about the use of the greenfield site.

"This application seems to rest on the nursery and football field. The housing seems to have been neglected.

"We are talking about greenfield sites. We need to stick to our policies and have no choice but to dismiss it," she added.

Coun Pat Fairbank said her main fear was the influx of traffic which would be created by the nursery.

And Coun John Alderson stated that the application was "in the wrong place".