OBJECTORS to plans to build 67 new homes off Carleton Road, Skipton, have won a stay of execution.

Councillors, who were recommended to approve the scheme by Skipton based Candelisa, have deferred making a decision until they can put their traffic concerns to a highways officer from North Yorkshire County Council.

In addition to highways, councillors at Craven District Council's Planning Committee on Monday questioned the ability of the local infrastructure to cope and encroachment of the planned development into the countryside.

Carleton Road resident, and spokesman for objectors, Tim Forman, said councillors should reject the proposals, as they had done with a similar sized scheme in Settle last month, and concentrate on finishing the local development plan.

"Without a local plan, you run the risk of ruining Skipton, which is the gateway to the Dales," he said.

And while welcoming the idea of a cycle track, he said not only would it attract more cars to the area, but that it would spend half the year under water.

Ward councillor Peter Madeley

while praising Candelisa as a quality developer said he had major concerns about highways safety.

The latest plan would mean another 2,000 more cars per day to the area, which on top of other approved schemes in the area - including the mixed residential and industrial Wyvern Park - would be disastrous for Carleton Road and Carleton New Road, he said.

The proposed scheme for 67 homes lies next to an already approved plan for 39 homes with access onto Burnside. Councillors heard the access would be made for pedestrians and bikes only, with vehicular access via a new bridge to Carleton New Road.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said they had a duty to their constituents to ignore the demands of central government and to reject the scheme.

"As a democratically elected planning authority, we are apparently toothless. We are puppets of the government when it comes to development, this would be a gross intrusion into the landscape. It is immoral, un needed and in the wrong place," he said.

Councillors were recommended to approve the application, which they heard while outside the development limits of the town, was close enough to existing - and another approved housing scheme - to make it sustainable.

The 7.4 hectare site included an area known to flood, but that was to be developed for the cycle track, and for some of the gardens of the houses included in the scheme.

The application will now return to a future meeting of the planning committee when members will be able to put their concerns to a highways officer.