Campaigners whose proposals to build a memorial playground were thrown out by Bradford planners are determined to build a commemorative garden instead.

Supporters of the scheme pledged their support at a meeting of the Stockbridge Neighbourhood Action Group.

If they are successful, plants, seating and a plaque will be placed on the land in Colenso Walk, off Florist Street.

It will commemorate Casey Mason, who died in April 2004 when she was knocked down by a lorry in Bradford Road.

On Monday night the owner of the site, Sue Brewer, told the Stockbridge community group: "We always said if we did not get the planning permission we would make the land into a garden."

Architectural consultant Nick Lajszczuk said planners had "shot themselves in the foot" by rejecting the playground last Thursday.

He said: "Whereas before they could talk about things like lighting and access, they've now got no control over the land."

He said a planning officer had told him a memorial garden would not need official planning permission.

He said he was "gutted" by the Casey's Corner refusal but urged members to move forward with the garden proposals rather than appeal against the rejection.

Simon D'Vali, a National Road Safety Initiative co-ordinator, said his group would give £7,500 towards improving the pathway providing access to the site. The money will also go towards installing better lighting.

Alan Budge, of Bradford Vision, said he would allocate £4,000 to pay for protective matting and seating.

"We need to get this money spent before the end of March at the latest," he said.

He added it was important to start working out the details of how the planned memorial garden would look.

He praised campaigners for the "phenomenal" amount of work they had done to try to make the project a success.

The Mayor of Keighley, Councillor Tony Wright has spoken of his dismay at the planners' decision to reject Casey's Corner.

"Big Brother Bradford has reared its head again," he said.

He added: "It's quite disgraceful really. Thousands of pounds were put forward for this by Bradford Vision and it's been wiped away in one stroke.

"One arm of Bradford Council has denied another section of the council the ability to spend money on this area.

"Everyone on the town council is deeply disappointed by this. We did all we could to make this succeed."

He said planners could have allowed the project to go ahead by imposing strict conditions instead of imposing an outright rejection.

Opinion page 8