HUNDREDS of protesters are urging a planning committee to 'keep the green in Greengates' and turn down a bid to build homes on grazing land.

Campaigners are planning a demonstration outside City Hall on Thursday, where a committee will be deciding whether to give outline planning permission for up to 130 homes on green fields off Harrogate Road in Greengates, Bradford.

The proposal, by landowner AME Properties, sparked more than 350 objections from local people as well as councillors and MPs, but planning officers have recommended it for approval.

One of the campaigners, local resident Rupy Hayre, said a string of housebuilding schemes on green fields in Greengates and Idle was putting schools, roads and other amenities under severe pressure.

Mrs Hayre said people were particularly concerned that this development could wipe out the avenue of trees along Harrogate Road, which had been there for generations.

She said: "It's just such a shame to lose that feel to the area. It's just being destroyed. It's just being pulled apart."

Bradford East's Labour MP Imran Hussain and Conservative MP for Pudsey, Stuart Andrew, have both objected to the scheme.

Yesterday, Mr Hussain said he was concerned about the impact of the development on local infrastructure, as well as the loss of an open space valued by the community.

He said: "We have a school places crisis in the district as a whole, but here as well. Where are the extra school places going to come from?"

Agent for the scheme, Adam Key of Savills, said they acknowledged this was the latest in a number of planning applications in that area, and that residents were concerned about the cumulative impact on local schools.

He said that's why the plan for Harrogate Road would include a "considerable" contribution to nearby schools, which would allow them to expand.

He said: "We are not pretending that is not an issue, or trying to get out of it in any way."

Mr Key said part of the land involved had been earmarked for industry.

He said: "We think housing use would be much better here."

And he said matters like trees, landscaping and layout were not being discussed at this point. He said if outline permission was secured, AME Properties would aim to sell the land to a housebuilder who would develop a detailed plan.

The Regulatory and Appeals Committee meets at 10am on Thursday at City Hall.