HARROGATE Borough Council has backed a draft Local Plan which includes proposals for a massive new settlement west of York.

However, a number of councillors spoke out against the proposed allocation of land near Green Hammerton and Kirk Hammerton for up to 3,000 new homes.

The debate came after a demonstration outside the full council meeting at the town’s Royal Hall by more than 100 protesting local residents.

Chris Chelton, chair of the Keep Green Hammerton Green campaign group, said he was not surprised the council approved the plan, as it had been made very clear that failure to do so would result in Harrogate losing control of the process to the Government.

“However, we were delighted and encouraged by several councillors speaking out against the ‘Great Hammerton’ option for the same reasons we disagree with it - irrevocable loss of prime agricultural land and unsustainable with no infrastructure, excess traffic on a very busy A59, no local jobs and the potential damage of ancient villages and close communities,” he said.

“Many councillors, whilst supporting the Local Plan to allow the process to move forward, were very vocal in disagreeing with many elements of the plan, with several sites across the Harrogate region being the subject of objection during the meeting.

“We were told by the councillors to keep campaigning as the process now goes back for public consultation and will come before the Independent Planning Inspectorate, which we fully expect will identify the many flaws in the proposals and support our objections.”

He said there was support during the debate for an alternative site for the new settlement at Flaxby Park, alongside the A1 and the group would be campaigning on "to get the right decision".

A council spokeswoman said 37 councillors voted for the draft plan, six were against and three abstained, and there would now be a six-week public consultation starting in January,