Residents who have lost a nine-month battle against plans to build homes on a wooded area next to a Bradford cemetery are to lodge an appeal with the Local Government Ombudsman.

Despite a petition signed by more than 1,000 people, Bradford Council's Area Planning Panel agreed last week to allow Keylands Developments to build off Close Head Lane, Thornton, next to Thornton Cemetery.

But the protesters say they will now be making a formal complaint about the way the Council handled the application. Cheryl Hanson, 19, said residents received a letter informing them about the planning meeting only four days before it took place, which meant many people could not attend and those who could did not have time to prepare properly.

Miss Hanson said Thornton and Allerton ward councillors Valerie Binney, Michael McCabe and Clive Richardson, who had been against the application, had also been unable to attend the meeting.

She said: "We are going to appeal against the way the Council has dealt with the application. We had no representation whatsoever. We asked for a postponement of the meeting, but they said that a lot of money had already been wasted on this planning decision. They have just bamboozled us."

Chris Thornton, 27, who lives in Close Head Lane, was the residents' spokesman at the meeting.

He said: "It is disgusting because we didn't get a chance to prepare. I'm not up to date on all the Council planning jargon, but it's not over on our part."

The site, which was bought from the Council by Keylands Developments, lies next to Thornton Road - which the firm also wants to develop.

Protesters say the new housing will not necessarily have an adverse impact on them, but concerns have been raised about the possible damage it will cause to wildlife.

Some residents say the site is home to newts, rabbits and deer, while others believe plans to develop in the cemetery are disrespectful and unnecessary, especially as homes are already being built on the opposite side of Thornton Road.

Miss Hanson said: "There are already 140 houses being built over the road from the cemetery.

"Not only that but this is a cemetery which is regularly used and there is wildlife in the area."

A Council spokesman said the planning application had been approved, subject to the developer making a contribution to benefit the community.

e-mail: ali.davies@telegraphandargus.co.uk

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