RESIDENTS close to Otley Garnett's paper mill fear redevelopment plans for the site will mean traffic gridlock for the town.

With the paper company's major residential, office and hotel scheme expected to be given outline approval today, residents fear proposed highways alterations -- put forward by the city council -- will spell disaster for the town.

And although they say they support the redevelopment of the 15 acre prime riverside land, they want to see access to the site mainly from Pool Road and that thought be given to creating a parking area at the former Bridge End auction mart.

Leeds City Council's Plans Panel (West) will today be urged to give outline approval to the scheme and give the go-ahead to planning officers to continue negotiations with the applicant Otley Riverside Holdings Ltd.

Councillors, who in December deferred the plan for further details, will hear that Garnett's chairman is urging progress on the scheme to secure the future for the paper mill.

In a letter to the panel, Mahendra Mehta says that the company needs funds from the redevelopment of the site to pay for its relocation -- which he puts at £5.5 million -- to Whiteley's Mill at Pool-in-Wharfedale.

Mr Mehta points out that the move to Pool will secure the company's long term future, but that current indecision is costing it a 'significant amount of money each month'.

A meeting took place on Monday between more than 30 residents of Manor Street, representatives of Leeds City Council's planning and highways departments and Otley and Yeadon councillor Ryk Downes.

The residents have asked that access to the new development be off Pool Road - except for emergency and light delivery vehicles.

They are also asking that entry to Manor Street be made access only and that all construction traffic be made to access the site via Pool Road.

Manor Street spokesman David Collins said: "Like the majority of people in Otley, we welcome the development in principal, but we are extremely concerned that the traffic implications for the whole town centre have not been properly addressed and that there is a real danger that Otley's greatest asset - the frontage to the River Wharfe - will be damaged rather than enhanced by the proposals as they stand at the moment."

Part of the proposals to improve access to the site involve the widening of Mill Lane - which will mean the removal of a hedge alongside Titty Bottle Park.

Mr Collins added: "Manor Street and Bridge Street quickly gridlock at peak times and on sunny weekends, causing traffic problems that can back up and disrupt the whole of the town centre.

"We foresee an enormous increase in traffic, huge parking problems and traffic chaos as visitors try their luck and access the site via Mill Lane, even if the route is designated for commercial vehicles only.

"We are hoping that the planners will recognise the gravity of the situation for the town's traffic flow and take time to consider our alternative proposals."

Richard Whitehorn, property consultant for Garnett's landlords, Brick Holdings, said he was disappointed that a representative of the company had not been asked to attend the meeting.

He pointed out that the scheme was still very much in outline, that details would be thrashed out over the next few years and there would be plenty of opportunity for people to put forward comments.