AN INDEPENDENT drainage expert is to weigh in on a row over whether developing green fields would increase the risk of flooding in Menston.

But the expert is to be paid by an action group fighting the development, leading some to question just how independent he or she will be.

Menston Action Group (MAG) has been battling the development of land off Bingley Road, where Taylor Wimpey wants to build 137 homes, for four years.

One of MAG’s key objections is the claim that building homes on the site would exacerbate drainage problems in the area, with experts polarised on the matter.

Last week the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee met to decide whether to approve the planning application or not. During a three-hour discussion, the meeting heard that Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and the Council’s own drainage boss Tony Poole all agreed with the developer that a sufficient drainage scheme for the site could be incorporated in the design.

But drainage expert Professor David Rhodes, who opposes the scheme, told the meeting they were not taking into account the issue of ground water emergence, meaning their conclusion was “materially flawed”.

Now MAG has offered to pay for an independent advisor to write a report to be considered by for the planning committee before it makes a decision.

MAG’s lawyer Chris Schofield, of Schofield Sweeney, said: “It’s a fact that resources in the council are stretched and officers have to rely on the applicant’s advisers, who are of course not independent.”

He said MAG was proposing to pay for an independent drainage expert, who would be appointed by an independent body such as the Royal Society.

The council’s legal adviser, Tim Driver, said that would be possible, although the committee could not commit to abide by the findings of the report.

Wharfedale ward councillors Gerry Barker (Con) and Dale Smith (Con) both urged the committee to accept the deal. Cllr Barker said: “It would be a way forward from this impasse that currently seems to exist.”

And Cllr Smith added: “Cllr Barker and I both believe that Menston village is about to become the victim of a grave injustice.”

But planning officer John Eyles sounded a note of caution. He said the independence of an expert paid by MAG could definitely well be questioned by the developer. He said: “I have to say, the independent person in this room is Mr Poole and his team. I’m sorry, but that is the case.” Mark Johnson, agent for Taylor Wimpey, also argued the move was unnecessary but the committee decided to opt for the plan and the matter was deferred to January to allow for the expert to be found and the new report to be drawn up.