A PUBLIC meeting has been called to debate controversial plans for a road across fields to a potential housing estate.

Town and district councillor Adrian Naylor has organised the gathering on September 17 in the light of hundreds of objections to the planning application.

He said that in the light of some public confusion he wanted to “debunk myths” about the plans so that townspeople knew exactly where the road would go and what is was designed to achieve.

He wants discussion of the main core concerns both he and residents have about the road, which would link busy Bolton Road with fields at Hawber Cote adjoining the planned new Silsden Primary School.

Developers initially intended the road to simply connect to fields earmarked for up to 400 houses, but at the request of Bradford Council they extended the route to connect with the school.

Silsden Campaign Group for the Countryside was formed last month to fight the plans, with members claiming the road would cut across used footpaths and countryside, rich in wildlife habitats.

Cllr Naylor hopes to have developers’ original blueprints at the meeting so residents can clearly see details.

He said: “There’s been a lot of confusion about what this road actually is and where it is. The submission says the road doesn’t reconnect with Hawber Cote Lane, but that isn’t the understanding of a number of people in Silsden.

“There’s talk of a turning circle at the end of the road near the school that would allow people to drop their children off and go out again.”

Cllr Naylor’s other concerns include road safety at the junction with Bolton Road.

The public meeting will be at Silsden Town Hall of September 27 at 7pm. All are welcome.