A public inquiry into a controversial plan for new houses in Mirfield was described as a "farce'' during angry outbursts at the start of the hearing.

Developers Bellway Homes want to build 124 houses on a field at the former Gilder Hall Youth Club site in Greenside Road and fields off Balderstone Hall and Wellhouse Lane.

But there is strong opposition from local residents worried about traffic congestion and loss of green fields and 71 turned out for the start of the inquiry yesterday at Dewsbury Town Hall.

Christopher Frost, the Department of Environment inspector conducting the inquiry, explained that Bellway Homes, Kirklees Council, Mirfield Town Council and residents would be given a chance to speak.

But Geoff Foster, from the Save Mirfield campaign, jumped up ten minutes into the hearing after complaints from some residents - many of them elderly - that they could not hear the speakers.

He said: "This public inquiry is a farce. We can only hear you (the inspector)."

There was applause from the residents as he spoke and a representative from the Council adjusted the other speakers' microphones so that all the residents could hear.

Half-an-hour later Mr Foster again leapt up and shouted out as Anthony Crean, the barrister for Bellway Homes, was outlining the company's case.

There were guffaws and cries of "it's a joke'' and "fairytale' from residents when Mr Crean claimed there would be only eight instead of the present 143 vehicles using Wellhouse Lane when the houses were built.

This, he said, was because of a new access road planned through the Gilder Hall site as part of the development to help ease congestion.

But Mr Foster shouted out in fury: "This inquiry should not be taking place during the working week. People who work can't get here to put forward their views. We have to listen to this twaddle before we can speak. It's a farce.''

Mr Frost urged the residents not to interrupt and said they would have a chance to speak during the inquiry which is scheduled to last two days.

Another resident Fred Butler, of Flash Lane, who left the inquiry after 75 minutes, said: "I agree with Mr Foster. The inquiry is a bit of a sham. The professional people of Mirfield are not here because they are at work so their comments will go unheard.

"I think the timing of the inquiry was probably a ploy. I get the impression the Council is going to be bulldozed by statistics and very clever talk.''

Kirklees Council and the Town Council, which has hired a barrister and highways engineering consultant to speak on behalf of the objectors, are opposed to the homes.

Residents have already sent Kirklees Council a 700-name petition, 300 letters of objection and a thousand residents attended an open day organised by Save Mirfield at the Gilder Hall site.

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