A FORMER Bradford Council executive member for planning and ex-Rural Champion has backed concerns of the outgoing National Trust head, and a suggestion of special protection grading for countryside and landscape.

Ilkley ward councillor Anne Hawkesworth (Ind, Ilkley) said she welcomed the concerns expressed by Simon Jenkins, who stood down as head of the Trust on Saturday, November 8.

Councillor Hawkesworth, who used to hold the environment portfolio on Bradford Council’s executive when the council was Conservative led, fears the government is putting too much emphasis on development, ahead of the good of the countryside.

She has been one of the chief campaigners in fighting development on greenbelt land in Wharfedale, and in particular highlighting the need for sensitive natural habitats near Ilkley Moor to be protected.

She said: “There is little doubt that the current government is anxious for development at whatever cost to the countryside. The changes to planning through the NPPF (National Planning Policy Framework) were called at the time “the developers’ charter” by many, including myself.

“This framework eliminated ‘the presumption that you build on brownfield first and then only possibly green’. How destructive and negative! It means the areas that need regeneration are left to decay and our glorious green areas are destroyed.”

Coun Hawkesworth believes a ‘grading’ system for protecting the landscape could be of benefit to Ilkley. And she repeated her call for the creation of new towns to be pursued.

She added: “Simon Jenkins is suggesting a grade system, with different areas being given 1-7 respectively. I may not agree that National Parks only should be in Category 1 – there are some areas which are not National Parks but worthy of being so.

“However, the merit of including more protection to the countryside can only be encouraged. Ilkley is a case in point of a town in a wonderful setting. The town is mainly of merit because of its landscaping, which must be preserved.”

But she believes brownfield sites alone will not provide the complete answer, and that new towns should be considered.

“The concept of new towns does need pursuing in areas where you are not destroying the landscape but in areas which have good communication links, road and rail,” said Coun Hawkesworth.

“Such tracts of land exist within Yorkshire at the district boundaries of the West Yorkshire cities abutting the M606 and M1.”