A pair of MPs have backed campaigners’ bids to create an action group to fight proposals to develop more than 200 acres of green land.

The Rawdon Trust has offered the land, at Rawdon Billing, to developers, and is currently in negotiations with housebuilders about the land, which falls between Yeadon, Rawdon and Horsforth.

But more than 200 people turned out for a special meeting to discuss schemes to fight any future development on the Billing and form an action group should any planning applications be submitted in the future.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland and Pudsey MP Stuart Andrew were among those who attended the meeting, organised by the Wharfedale and Aireborough Review Development (WARD) group.

Mr Mulholland branded any plans to build on the land as “preposterous”.

“There are two MPs, and nine councillors here and we have to thank WARD for bringing us all together to fight this,” he said.

“They are all volunteers, but we need WARD more than ever to get things organised across area boundaries. It really is preposterous that the Billing should ever be built on. We need to throw this out.

“We will not have a single brick laid, we must stop this and we must organise professionally.”

Mr Andrew said changes in planning and the introduction of the new National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) could help people fight any developments.

“The turnout of so many people, and so many people turned away, demonstrates the strength of feeling and value local people put on an important community asset like the Billing,” he said. “This clearly demonstrates we need to take advantage of the new NPPF to give a greater voice to local people”

But a Leeds district councillor representing Horsforth, said forming a parish council in Rawdon might provide a stronger voice than an action group.

Coun Brian Cleasby said: “It could do so much more than a Forum. The members would be elected by residents and answer to them.

“In Horsforth, the council provides extra PCSOs, CCTV cameras and is organising a Jubilee community event.

“All planning applications in Horsforth are scrutinised by their planning sub-committee and they were leaders in the creating of the Horsforth Design Statement and involved in the creation of the Cragg Hill and Woodside Conservation Area.”