BATTLE lines are being drawn up again by campaigners who have already fought off an application for the construction of 21 new homes in a village centre.

The Keep Embsay with Eastby Rural group is back in the fray to defend an area of open land, behind Embsay Village Hall and off Laurel Croft, where developers have a re-submitted a planning application, this time to build 14 homes.

Craven District Council threw out the last scheme in the autumn after fierce criticism of the plan which villagers claimed would spoil the rural nature of the village and cause traffic problems.

The new application, which has sparked a flood of objections, comes amidst fears over the planned development of 32 homes of Kirk Lane, in Embsay.

A campaign spokesman said the new application did not overcome the reasons for the refusal of the previous plan for the site, which is located in Embsay Conservation Area and is only 30 yards from the boundary with the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

It would still increase the level of traffic movement at the junction from Laurel Croft with Main Street, almost opposite the Main Street car park entrance, and where visibility was seriously restricted.

He said: "The car park and Main Street now suffer vastly increased levels of use above the numbers of vehicles experienced during the early 1970s when the car park and the current Laurel Croft access were designed and built.

"Any further increase in traffic levels at this point can only heighten the already significant hazards to drivers and pedestrians alike.

"Development at the heart of the old part of the village would damage the character of the Conservation Area and be totally contrary to the very purpose of such a designated heritage asset."

An architect's design and access statement claims the site was not publicly important as an open space and the houses were in scale with the other properties in the area.

There was good visibility eastwards from Laurel Croft but visibility was limited to the west.

People who have not yet seen the application should log on to Craven District Council website, reference no 26/2014/15324.

Objections can be made online and the closing date for objections is Thursday, February 5.