PLANS to convert a former workshop in Carleton into two, three bedroom homes have been deferred by councillors for a second time - despite one saying it was wrong to question the expertise of highways engineers.

Most councillors defied officers and the chairman of Craven District Council’s planning committee to defer the application until April.

Members voted six to four to ask the highways authority to look again at the access onto Park Lane and whether it was safe, and whether the proposed number of parking spaces for the development was enough.

Ward councillor Richard Pringle said he had nothing against the developer RN Wooler and Co, but more time was needed to check information about the proposed visibility splays - the area where it is safe to see traffic in both directions, and possibly seek alternative advice.

Cllr Robert Heseltine said the principle of development was accepted, but the proposed visibility splays remained ‘unclear and unsatisfactory’. “Visibility is a critical safety criteria, “ he said.

But Committee chairman Linda Brockbank said she could not support another deferral.

The proposed new access was an improvement on what was there before while the previous use of the site could potentially have meant more traffic, she said, adding that there had been no reported accidents on Park Lane for the last 22 years.

Cllr Stephen Place said the committee was acting unreasonably by questioning the expertise, competence and reliability of the highways officers. “I don’t think we will be getting a Christmas card off our highways officers this year,” he said.

Planning manager, Neville Watson, said it appeared that the committee was asking for independent advice because it did not like the advice it was getting from the highways authority.