Villagers concerned about plans to build 400 houses in Addingham had to be turned away from a packed meeting.

More than 200 people attended Monday’s meeting at Addingham Memorial Hall over the Core Strategy of Bradford Council’s Local Development Framework (LDF).

Addingham Civic Society and Addingham Parish Council called the meeting to gather residents’ views on the strategy as they prepared their official consultation responses before Bradford’s January 20 deadline.

But residents are also being asked to submit their own consultation responses.

People had to resort to standing – and even sitting on the floor – at the Memorial Hall to make sure they got a chance to speak, and hear other villagers’ views. Addingham Civic Society chairman, Jim Robinson, said organisers were forced to turn residents away as the hall was full.

But the civic society is also encouraging residents with views to e-mail them to the society, as well as making responses directly to Bradford Council.

Mr Robinson said: “It’s really about keeping the momentum going, that’s the challenge.”

The draft Core Strategy document suggests building more than 3,000 new houses in Wharfedale to meet a 45,000 district housing target - including 400 homes in Addingham.

Although initial housing allocation study documents show fields around Addingham as potential housing sites, consultation on specific land allocations is not expected to take place until later this year.

Concerns were raised at the meeting about parking, traffic, flooding, pressure for schools places, urban sprawl, and the difficulties of creating truly affordable housing.

There was also a call for residents and organisations in communities along the valley to work together, representing Wharfedale views on the LDF.

Members of the parish council and civic society, and two district ward councillors, also met MP Kris Hopkins on Friday to discuss the LDF and provisions of the Localism Act.

Mr Hopkins outlined the emphasis the act will place on decisions being driven from the community upwards, rather than being imposed from above.

Addingham residents are invited to e-mail LDF comments to the civic society at info@addinghamcivicsociety.co.uk.

Copies of LDF documents are available at Ilkley Library and Ilkley Town Hall. Comments can be e-mailed to Bradford Council at ldf.consultation@bradford.gov.uk or posted to: Bradford Local Development Framework, Freepost NEA 11445, PO Box 1068, Bradford, BD1 1BR.