Residents in Queensbury have won their battle to stop a controversial housing development which would have cut into the village cemetery.

The row began in January 2001 when plans for the new development at Broomfield, near Black Dyke Mills, were submitted to Bradford Council.

Up to 200 new houses were proposed, along with a road which would run through a corner of the Holy Trinity churchyard and public graveyard.

The proposal was turned down by the Council in July 2001, and in December John Wade, managing director of applicants PJ Wade Ltd, lodged an appeal with the Government's Planning Inspectorate.

But planning inspector John Davies has now dismissed the appeal on grounds that there was no need to develop the site for housing in light of the amount of existing brownfield sites in the area; that plans to move the cemetery gates would cause serious harm to the character of the Queensbury conservation area; and that the proposed new road would be distressing to nearby residents.

Mr Davies added that an appeal against his decision could now be lodged with the High Court.

Queensbury councillors Andrew Smith (Con), Michael Walls (Con) and Geoffrey Green (Lab), who campaigned against the development, said they were thrilled it had been finally rejected. "This is brilliant news. I thought the appeal would go this way, but you don't know until you get it in writing," said Coun Smith.

"The people of Queensbury will be very pleased with the decision."

Coun Green said that the important thing was to find an alternative use for the site.

"What we want to do, whether it's the ward councillors or Bradford Council, is to try to talk to Mr Wade and see what we can do.

"It has been an issue for a long time and finding a solution is going to be difficult. What my worry is if we can't find a use for it he is going to keep coming back with other applications of a similar kind."

Today Mr Wade said he was amazed the plans had been rejected.

"It's just a shock that they've turned down a plan that meets all the needs for housing in Queensbury," he said.

"It would be next to the roads, shops and library.

"The planning guidance from the Government says that sites should have all these facilities. We thought we were giving some benefits to the community."

Many Queensbury residents campaigned against the development.

Janet Green, 42, collected more than 100 signatures against the proposal and says she was especially affected by the development as her father is buried in the cemetery.

"My mum's disabled and in a wheelchair, so we specifically picked a plot that was near the roadside so we could get her in the car to see my dad in the plot," she said.