Keighley pressure group BANDAG has called for a rethink on Government plans to make it easier to build houses on greenfield sites.

It has signed up to a national campaign demanding changes to the Growth and Infrastructure Bill before it becomes law.

Members are urging other local people to join them in supporting efforts by the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE).

BANDAG has campaigned for greater development of town centre sites rather than building in areas such as the North Beck and High Shann, Keighley.

Its involvement in the latest issue was prompted by controversial comments made by Planning Minister Nick Boles.

Mr Boles suggested that the nine per cent of England so far built on should be increased to 12 per cent, seeing 1,500 square miles of open countryside covered with new housing.

BANDAG spokesman Barbara Archer said the Bill had several contentious provisions.

She said: "It is set to further undermine democracy and weaken the ability of local authorities, communities and people to make planning decisions for themselves.

"All planning decisions on industrial infrastructure developments bigger than four hectares can be taken by central Government rather than the local authority."

She said the Bill seemed to be in direct conflict with the Localism Act.

The Telegraph & Argus is also pressing for the development of brownfield sites ahead of greenfield ones though our Save Our Green Spaces campaign. BANDAG can be contacted on bandag@hotmail.co.uk or 07954 206063.