The assault on Bradford's green-belt land, due to be launched tomorrow by some of the country's biggest builders when the public inquiry begins into the Unitary Development Plan, needs to be resisted with the utmost vigour and conviction.

The precious greenery around the city must be protected at all costs. Already far too much housing development has been allowed to encroach into the fields that make Bradford such a pleasant, varied district. Much more would threaten the nature of the place and could undermine its economy.

The UDP, with its emphasis on re-using previously-developed land - brownfield sites - is a sensible attempt to right the balance. It is what the people of Bradford say they want, having been given every chance to express their views through a massive consultation exercise.

Whatever arguments the builders might bring to the public inquiry, the wishes of the people who lives in this district surely cannot be ignored..

Bradfordians have to live with an infrastructure which is already under great pressure from the outward spread of housing. The Aire Valley roads are so badly choked that even the Bingley Relief Road will not ease the overall situation. Roads, schools and medical facilities are under pressure in places like Clayton Heights, Thackley, Baildon, Wilsden and Silsden where builders have previously had their demand for land met at the expense of local fields.

Enough is enough. The Council rightly believes the emphasis should be on reusing former industrial sites, many of which are closer to the city centre shops and workplaces and on good bus routes. That is the view that must prevail at the inquiry.