A campaign group fighting to save a Bingley greenfield site from redevelopment have criticised developers for failing to inform them about work being carried out to cut hedges down, leading to fears they were preparing the site for building work for 400 homes.

Terry Brown, chairman of Greenhill Action Group, said that contractors for developers Redrow were “decimating” the field by cutting several hundred yards of hedgerows from the site bordering the Leeds-Liverpool Canal at Sty Lane, Micklethwaite, as part of a regeneration plan.

He said that he had since discovered the work was genuinely needed, but claims it was an insensitive time to do it, just days before the outcome of the final consideration on whether homes can be built on the site or not.

“It is Redrow running roughshod and they should have communicated with the Council,” he said. “From our point of view we heard concerns from residents who suddenly think developers are destroying their fields.

“The work they are doing is responsible work but they have not communicated with anybody.”

The controversy surrounding the fields will be looked at again by Communities and Local Government Secretary (DCLG) Eric Pickles, who will have the final say on whether the development of the site can go ahead on Thursday, January 17.

Developers Redrow were unavailable for comment.

Councillor Val Slater, Executive Member for Housing and Planning at Bradford Council, said: “This is no longer a matter for the Council to comment on, as it is now in the hands of the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government.”

All interested parties have until January 17 to submit representations to DCLG which could include any material change in circumstances, fact or policy which may have arisen since Mr Pickles' letter of July 19.