PLANS to build a leisure complex featuring fishing lakes, wildlife pond and seven camping pods in ‘totally unspoilt countryside’ at Draughton have been deferred by Craven councillors.

Craven District Council’s planning committee went against the advice of officers to approve the scheme, which also includes a toilet block, parking for 21 cars and with access off Height Lane, and instead put off making a decision for a month for more information.

The committee voted six to three to seek clarification on matters including the extraction of water, the impact on water courses, and access issues.

The online meeting heard Richard Neale of Draughton Parish Council give details of the council’s many concerns including the extraction of water for the two fishing lakes and one wildlife pond and the possible impact on farms downstream. There were also concerns about the access to be shared by walkers and horse riders.

But, responding to the parish councillor, Caroline Sunter of David Hill chartered surveyors, agent for the applicants Mr Slingsby and Mr Mitchell, said water would be taken from a bore hole and added that the farms were on mains water.

She also said that the scheme had been developed with the subject of pre -application advice with the council’s planning department and had been adapted following consultation.

The applicants had repaired the bridleway and there was plenty of space for horse riders, walkers and the proposed new use, which had received no objections from highways or the environment agency, she said.

Cllr Robert Heseltine - in the absence of a ward councillor - pointed out that application had been with the council just one month short of two years.

The site he said could not be more unspoilt or remote and was accessed by an old Roman road. “The intrusion of more vehicles and commercial development in these circumstances is a gross injustice towards this outstanding landscape and environment,” he said.

Cllr Heseltine said he was also concerned about the extraction of water and said even from a bore hole it would impact on the water table.

He added: “ Hydrology is something you don’t mess with. Get it wrong and we could be faced with water wars in Wharfedale. “

Cllr Andy Brown said he could see himself supporting the scheme, but he wanted to know more. He further described the site as a ‘blasted landscape’ that could benefit from the right type of tree cover.

Cllr Richard Pringle said he was born at Draughton Heights and said the proposed site was only visible from ‘Heaven, Black Park across the valley’ and by his late father whose ashes were in a field two fields away.