CAMPAIGNERS fighting Bradford Council's decision to allow the building of 267 homes in Apperley Bridge have formally applied for a judicial review of how the case was handled.

And they have the support of Liberal Democrat leader and ward Councillor Jeanette Sunderland who accused the planning committee which approved it of "riding roughshod" over residents' legitimate fears during the planning process.

In the run-up to the scheme's approval last year, Bradford Council received 287 objections plus two petitions against the proposals and only one letter of support.

Apperley Bridge Residents' Action Group is battling the Miller Homes development on the open space of Simpson's Green and has now started a fundraising campaign to pay for future legal bills, said group member Rupy Hayre.

"Apperley Bridge Residents Action Group has applied for a judicial review and has commenced fundraising," she said.

"We've already received so much support from our local community and further afield, for which we are very thankful.

"Idle and Thackley have really come together to fight overdevelopment of our area and we will continue to do so until we feel we have received a fair and just process for development of the area as a whole and of course, for each application being submitted."

Mrs Hayre said there were wide concerns regarding the impact of major building schemes on the area's infrastructure.

"As a mother of two young children, am seriously concerned about the lack of school spaces for both primary and secondary schools in the area," she said.

"Add to this new families moving into the area due to the major housing developments and we have a serious problem.

"Apperley Bridge is still considered an idyllic Yorkshire village, yet overdevelopment is taking away from our green fields, as well as having an adverse impact on the heritage aspects of the area and our listed buildings.

"We are disappointed with Bradford Council’s lack of foresight."

Cllr Sunderland said she felt the Simpson's Green development had been dealt with too hastily by the Council's regulatory and appeals committee.

"I have serious concerns that the committee rode roughshod over due process and ignored some serious issues. It was rushed through," Cllr Sunderland said.

"The site was allocated for housing, however the residents had a right to be heard and the impact on their location should have been taken into consideration.

"Now we are at a judicial review, which will be a complete and utter waste of taxpayers' money and the Council deserves all it gets," Cllr Sunderland said.

A spokesman for Miller Homes said: "We understand a Judicial Review has been lodged at the High Court in respect of our planning application at Apperley Bridge, Bradford. We are now considering our position."

Bradford Council declined to comment on the formal application for a judicial review.

However, when the possibility of the legal action was first mooted, Councillor Val Slater, the Council's executive member for housing, transport and planning, said: "Although the decision was obviously a disappointment to the objectors, I am confident that the planning committee followed all the required processes when coming to their decision."

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