The new year has brought a peculiar form of planning blight to Ilkley. A flurry of applications regarding large developments in the town has brought uncertainty to the future of its landscape and divided public opinion.

Parents, teachers and residents are right to be concerned about the future of education in response to plans for a new Ilkley Grammar School. A lot of effort has gone into proposals to transform the educational environment of future generations and provide much needed improvement to the school’s infrastructure.

Likewise, it is not surprising that families would be concerned about the scale of the development, both in terms of build and pupil numbers. Among all these concerns must be the consequence of developing green belt land, a loss which would be irreversible in the future.

Amidst the emotional school debate, Tesco’s appeal to build a supermarket on the old Spooner’s site has now landed on the planners’ desk, six months after proposals were thrown out. Campaigners may have thought they had snatched victory, but they will now find themselves having to redraw the lines of battle. An independent adjudicator will be brought in to resolve the issue and evidence will have to be prepared once again, from the public, planners and supermarket itself.

There are lots of unanswered questions regarding the future development of Ilkley. Investment is welcome but the bigger picture must not be forgotten.

If the school and supermarket projects go ahead, the potential increase in traffic on Valley Drive between the two developments could cause problems of its own. Other considerations would have to be the use of the current grammar school site if it is vacated, and people are still waiting for news about the relocation of the Coronation Hospital – a decision which could have a severe impact on the decision to rebuild Ilkley Grammar School or redevelop the existing site.

The planning issues are ones which spark loyalty, emotion and commitment but they continue to cost time, money and resources. Let us hope that by the beginning of next year, the people of Ilkley will have a clearer view about the future of their beloved town.