Campaigners fighting proposed housing developments across the district are to set up a steering group to help them challenge Bradford Council’s planning policies.

Protesters from five campaign groups were among around 70 people at a public meeting last night, where it was agreed a petition should be started over aspects of the authority’s replacement Unitary Development Plan, which informs planning decisions.

Elizabeth Hellmich, chairman of the Heaton Township Association, which organised the meeting at St Barnabas Village Hall in Ashwell Road, said the organisation was not against future development but wanted residents’ views to be given greater consideration during the planning process.

She said: “In a lot of the dealings we have had with the planners we found the thoughts of the electorate are not taken into account or it appears that they are not.

“We would like the Council to have a look at what’s going on and instead of saying ‘our hands are tied because of the RUDP’, we want them to have look at it and see what can be altered.”

Sue Brown, a member of the association’s committee, said she found planning officers to be approachable and informative but outlined concerns she had over procedures.

She said: “We are the residents of Bradford. We are constantly suffering due to the systematic destruction of what we hold dear.”

The meeting also heard from members of the Tong and Fulneck Valley Association, which is campaigning against the development of up to 5,000 homes on green belt land, the Greenhill Action Group, which is objecting to plans for almost 500 homes in Micklethwaite, Baildon Residents Against Indiscriminate Development and the Wharfedale and Airedale Refuse Development group.

John Milnes, a Heaton resident, told the meeting: “This has got to be about how we go forward from here – not as groups but together.”

The steering group will now meet to decide the wording of the petition.