WHILE most of the more considerate members of the community are doing their bit – or lot – to help save mankind, womankind and the planet, it appears that there are a certain section from Craven who seem to be hell bent on trying to destroy it.

I refer of course to the seven Craven District councillors who voted in favour of the proposed Skipton, Airedale Avenue, new housing plan going ahead.

This, despite the plan not featuring any slip road on to the nearby A65.Anyone living in that locality – Wensleydale Avenue, Wharfedale Close, the present Airedale Avenue also residents of the proposed new Airedale Avenue complex who live barely a football field away from the A65, would instead have to queue with engine running, at four junctions and travel a mile further if wishing to head in the Ilkley, Harrogate and Leeds etc directions.

Indeed, those residents, and those from the higher parts of Hurrs Road, also Moorview Way and the recently built Elsey Croft complex, if wishing even to access West Craven and North Craven would find it quicker via the nearby Skipton by-pass, if a slip road onto the A65 did feature. Rather than – as things stand at present- having to shunt their way through those aforementioned junctions and more besides.

With a further huge house building programme already set to rumble on land at the top of Aldersley Avenue, and another in the pipeline for land behind North Parade on the nearby Greatwood – Horse Close estate, then Shortbank Road – the filter funnel for most of that related traffic – could well be worse for traffic jams and gas emissions than anything which you are ever likely to experience around Manchester’s Trafford shopping centre and Old Trafford football, all lumped together on big match days.

I invite all seven councillors who voted in favour of the present plan – minus slip road – to explain in these columns their reasons for so doing.

And, may I conclude is the council thinking too much of the financial carrot of the New Homes Bonus money?

Roger Ingham

Skipton