CAMPAIGNERS are gearing up for a second fight over plans to build homes on pasture land.

Bellway Homes has lodged a new planning application for 133 homes on the land off Bingley Road, Menston, where a previous developer’s plans were rejected over flooding concerns.

Shipley MP Philip Davies has met Bellway and told the company he will be fighting the plans.

He said: “I remain wholly opposed to this. I met with Bellway earlier this week to reiterate to them my trenchant opposition to what they are proposing.

“It is entirely unsuitable on lots of grounds.”

Mr Davies said flooding was a concern but so was a lack of infrastructure.

Dr Steve Ellams, a long-time campaigner against the development, said Menston Parish Council, Menston Community Association and Menston Action Group were now preparing for a joint fight against the plans.

Dr Ellams, chairman of the Community Association, said they were raising funds of around £16,000 for an updated experts’ report on local flooding and drainage issues and were also hoping to get a social media campaign going.

He said the problems which saw planning permission turned down in 2015 all remained.

He said: “We can’t see any change between what has been proposed in the past and what is being proposed now.”

Bellway Homes was approached for comment.

Documents lodged with its planning application say a comprehensive drainage scheme, installed as part of the development, would improve the situation on the site.

Previous developer Taylor Wimpey had applied to build 137 homes on the same land and received the backing of the Council’s own drainage team.

But in 2015, an independent flooding report, paid for by campaigners from the Menston Action Group, convinced a planning committee to go against their own officers’ recommendations and refuse the plans.

Taylor Wimpey appealed the decision and was set for a showdown with the Council at a planning inquiry, but the developer later withdrew its appeal.