An action group has been set up to fight development plans that would almost double the number of homes in a Craven village.

Eastburn residents have vowed to fight the Taywood Homes scheme for 198 houses on fields near the village, which presently contains around 340 homes.

The land is earmarked for housing in Bradford Council's Unitary Develop-ment Plan but opposition has grown since the proposals, which has not yet been considered by the planning committee, were announced.

The main grounds for objection are that the housing scheme would double the size of the village, the sewage system may not be able to cope, traffic would greatly increase and the local school and other amenities would not be able to cope with a population increase.

About 60 local residents attended a special public meeting this week organised by Conservative councillors to discuss the plans.

Elizabeth Hutchinson, who lives in Fern Bank and has lived in the village for 31 years, has joined the action group.

She said: "The scheme is just too big. They can build houses, but there are far too many to take into consideration for what's going on in the village.

"At the moment, 25 houses are being built in front of my house; I don't mind them - that's what I call natural growth."

And villager Bernard Wilson, who also attended the meeting, said: "If these houses are built, there's going to be no distinction between the villages of Eastburn, Steeton and Utley.

"There are so many other places where houses can be put."

Worth Valley councillor Kris Hopkins, who has fought similar planning applications in his ward, advised villagers on what action to take.

He said: "You have got to fight applications like this on technical grounds."

He suggested villagers turned their attentions to the issue of vehicle pollution and write to the planning office and committee to express your views.

Coun Hopkins took 500 Council-approved objection forms to the meeting and urged people to complete them.

He added: "Knock on people's doors - you've got to make the effort as well. Every time you have the opportunity to respond, you must respond."

And he urged villagers to keep fighting proposals, as he believed Taywood would reapply with revised plans, if they were initially rejected.

His views were echoed by Craven councillor and Steeton and Eastburn parish council chairman, David Emmott.

"The reason I've called this meeting is to make a bullet for us to fire. Taywood Homes are a massive firm and they mean business," he said.

No-one was available for comment from Taywood Homes.

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