A ROW has broken out between a developer and residents after he took down fences and a hedge that were encroaching on land where he wants to build homes.

Landowner Simon Holdsworth sent representatives to take down three fences and a hedge to the rear of properties in King’s Drive, Wrose, where he wants to build 23 homes.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood (Lab, Windhill & Wrose) said residents now feared for their safety after their fences were removed.

She said: “I was absolutely astounded when residents rang me to tell me what the developer had done, and without any warning.

“There are massive problems in Wrose at the moment with gangs of youths causing anti-social behaviour, breaking in to people’s houses and damaging property. The residents are scared to death.

“We know it’s his land, that’s not the issue. It’s a moral issue, you just don’t take down the fences of elderly people, putting them in a vulnerable position.”

Margaret Howlett, 71, who has lived in King’s Drive for two years, said a wooden picket fence had been removed from the back garden of her bungalow in King’s Drive by two men, on behalf of Mr Holdsworth.

She said her back garden was now exposed to anti-social behaviour from people congregating at Claremont Park.

She said: “It’s awful. We were not given any warning. They have taken our fence down.

“Our bungalow faces on to the playing field. I don’t know what to do. I can’t get any sleep because of it.”

He said he had written to residents in 2008 stating his intention to take back his land.

He said: “I have a right to reinstate my boundaries. Everybody knows where my boundaries are.

“If I have upset somebody then I’m sorry.”

He said the land had never been used for recreation and was overgrown. “They have extended their land on to mine. Why do they think it’s okay to take my land?” he said.

Mr Holdsworth said that since 2008 it had been an uphill battle to maintain the boundaries on the land because of the residents’ actions.

Mr Holdsworth’s proposal, for land off King’s Drive and Bolton Hall Road, has received 48 objections on the Bradford Council planning website.

The application is for 17 three-bedroom houses and six two-bedroom bungalows, with access between two houses on King’s Drive.

Residents have contacted Shipley MP Philip Davies, who described the proposal as an overdevelopment of a small area.

He said King’s Drive was narrow and the development could cause traffic problems, particularly at the junction of King’s Drive and Livingstone Road, only allowing one-way traffic.