Leaflets urging people to oppose plans for hundreds of homes on green field sites in Oakworth are being dropped through letter boxes this weekend.

Worth Valley Tory Councillor Kris Hopkins and helpers will be taking out 1,500 leaflets which residents are being asked to sign.

Bradford Council's unitary development plan pinpoints five fields between Occupation Lane and Branshaw Golf Club in Oakworth earmarked as suitable for 144 homes.

In addition eleven fields have also been identified within the Council's recently drawn up vacant land survey. It identifies land which has potential for development of some kind.

Coun Hopkins fears if the vacant land was used for housing, Oakworth could see up to 1,000 new homes in the area.

"If local people don't do something to stop it, it will happen. The vacant land survey land is up for grabs," he said.

"We need to demonstrate loud and clear that the people of Oakworth don't want any further housing development on green fields.

"The place will turn into a suburb of Bradford. The village doesn't have the infrastructure to cope."

Labour Councillor John Cope, chairman of Keighley planning sub-committee, said the sites identified in the vacant land survey had not been designated for anything specific and the land in the UDP would still need to go through the planning process, to make sure any proposals met with the Council's approval.

He said: "Whenever there are good reasons to oppose green field developments, I have done so and will do so."

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