A BRADFORD Council plan to build homes on the site of a demolished Baildon school has sparked instant opposition.

The local authority has submitted an application for the first two stages of a four-phase development on land once occupied by Ferniehurst First School beside Cliffe Lane West and Valley View.

The mix of family homes would include 20 social housing properties and 52 for sale.

Phases three and four, though not part of the current application, would build an additional 53 properties on the designated brownfield site, which is now grassed over and full of wildlife.

And residents fear the development means more congestion on already overburdened roads and further pressure on packed local schools.

A meeting to discuss the plans was due to be held last night at the nearby Cricketers Arms pub.

Ward councillors Debbie Davies (Con) and Val Townend (Con) have also called for an urgent public meeting to discuss the proposal and for plans to be publicly displayed at the town library and Baildon Community Link.

Mother and daughter Hilda Parkin and Jill Boyd are neighbours who moved into their terraced homes in Valley View just over a year ago.

"There was nothing in any searches to show any such plan," said Mrs Boyd, 49.

"I moved from Keighley to be next to Mum so we can support each other in a nice quiet spot and now this!"

She said the brownfield site was used by a farmer to graze cattle on.

"We've seen badgers, woodpeckers and all sorts of animals there," she added.

"Everyone is opposed to it because there isn't the infrastructure to support that many new families.

"There aren't the roads, the schools or local GPs."

Recently widowed Mrs Parkin added: "Even now it's impossible to get out from Green Lane onto Otley Road, the other way out along Cliffe Lane opposite Station Road is just awful.

"If this goes ahead it will just be horrendous," said Mrs Parkin 69, who moved from another part of Baildon to be beside her daughter.

"And our homes are right opposite where one of the two entrances would be," she added.

Councillor Davies said in her objection to the scheme: "The report with these proposals says that the four primary schools in Baildon are 'overcrowded' now - so given these plans are for two and three bedroom houses, where is it envisaged the inevitable children will go to school?"

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "The application has been the subject of extensive consultation and any representations made by the public will also be taken into consideration before a decision is made."