Residents have launched a campaign to ensure a piece of communal land does not fall into private hands.

They are concerned that several hectares of green space between Wrose and Windhill is one of many Bradford Council-owned assets which could be sold or transferred to the private sector under the authority's Asset Management Project.

So far 55 letters of objection to the plan which could see the transfer of the Carr Lane site have been received by the Council from residents.

And a petition with 95 signatures has been submitted to Bradford Council's Corporate Improvement Commission which will discuss the matter tomorrow.

Irvin Lee, 66, who has lived in Windhill for 29 years, explained the importance of the land to the community.

He said: "The land is used by most of the residents in Windhill and Wrose right through the year. In summer people play games there and cycle and walk and in winter children use it for sledging.

"The frustrating thing is that any money made from the sale will go elsewhere and won't be re-invested in Wrose or Windhill.

"People do feel strongly about the sale of the land but they also feel like no-ones going to listen and that the decision to sell the land has already been made."

The 64.7 hectare site will have a certain amount of protection even it is sold or transferred because in the Unitary Development Plan - which controls planning policy for the next 15 years - it has been designated as green space with some of it being adjudged of ecological and geological importance.

Wrose Parish Councillor Martin Humphries said: "The site is home to lots of wild life including foxes and bats. The bats are an endangered species and should be protected.

"If the land is sold off now and developed in the future the community will have been betrayed by Bradford Council. The quality of life will be greatly affected by a decision to develop the land."

Councillor Phillip Thornton (Lab Windhill and Wrose) said: "We should be preserving this land forever not getting rid of it.

"If it is developed in the future for housing or any other commercial venture residents will have to get on a bus to get to a green field and that is an outrage."

l The meeting will be held in Committee Room 1 at City Hall. Its starts at 5pm and is open to the public.