I WAS surprised to read there are proposals for 220 new homes in Cross Hills but not a single one of them will be affordable housing – £7.5M rail bridge in 220-home plan (Keighley News, January 22).

When did this vital planning requirement suddenly disappear from the criteria for approval?

Whilst it is very welcome to see the possibility of a new bridge over the railway, I would have thought it was standard practice to require a planning gain of this nature.

Our need is for more affordable houses so local people can remain in the area. If we drop this requirement for one scheme, then we are at real risk of finding other schemes decide the need for affordable houses can be quietly forgotten.

ANDY BROWN Cononley Prospective parliamentary candidate for the Green Party (Skipton and Ripon)