JUST an observation regarding the planning application for housing near Harry Lane, Oxenhope – Village homes plan rejected (Keighley News, August 8).

The plan was refused by Bradford Council, which had received a number of objections from the general public (count me as one).

The main reason, to my mind, was that the proposed housing development would impinge on the general vicinity of the Oxenhope millennium green area, which after all is a community recreation area and to coin a well-used phrase, a ‘green space’ in the said location.

The point I wish to make is that the Bradford planning department refused the application for a number of reasons, one being (and I quote) there is a “very clear conflict with conservation policy”.

When Oxenhope Parish Council put out some leaflets and information, the key words related to open green spaces, wildlife corridors, environment etc. Why then was there not an objection to the said plans by the parish council?

BRIAN HINCHLIFFE Marsh, Oxenhope

* Oxenhope Parish Council responds: “The parish council was consulted about the planning application for five houses near Harry Lane. The application was considered at the June meeting of the parish council.

“The council had assumed that the land was a white site (meaning there was no specific proposal for the land allocation), as is indicated on the published maps from Bradford Council. At the time of the meeting, comments from other consultees – including the conservation officer at Bradford Council – were not available to parish councillors.

“The parish council is aware that Bradford Council has since refused planning permission.

“Due to further information being made available, the parish council is reviewing its decision on this planning application.”