TORRENTIAL downpours and localised flooding on Saturday did not deter Wycliffe Neighbourhood Association which forged ahead with a 'Save Wycliffe Green' protest and family event.

The Association was formed in Shipley earlier this year to stop Wycliffe Green being built on. It was included for housing in the draft Bradford District Plan published in February and drew hundreds of objections including all three local councillors and Shipley Town Council.

“While we are waiting for their decision, we keep making use of the green,” said Shipley Town Councillor Rhona North, who is a local Wycliffe resident.

“This event was called ‘Love Wycliffe’ and although the weather was horrendous for much of the time, it actually seemed to bring people together and we had lots of fun and laughter and friendship.

"Probably around 50 people came along which we were pleased with given the weather. If it had been a lovely day it would have been a lot busier," she said.

The event was supported with a Shipley Town Council grant and was attended by a number of organisations including Capital of Cycling, in Bradford, which helped repair people's bikes free of charge.

"One youngster, Sami, was expecting to get rid of his bike away but it was repaired in quick time for free and he and his father was thrilled," said Cllr North.

Also on the day was the chance to make smoothies using pedal power only with fruit donated by Shipley Asda while some people enjoyed a mat sale, a different slant on a table top or car boot sale where they sold items from a mat or picnic blanket.

A bunting-making session was high on the agenda as was a 'Love Wycliffe' session making letters from recycled materials for people to hold and spell out the slogan.

It was all part of Shipley’s climate emergency actions with one of the organisers, Ludi Simpson, explaining each piece of bunting had a message from a resident to a politician saying they they thought of people in power and what should be done to slow global warming.

The biggest message of all was the plea from the association, formed earlier this year, to stop Wycliffe Green being built on.

The next version of Bradford’s District Plan is due later in 2021.