Residents in Baildon who own garages on Bradford Council-owned land have hit out after discovering the authority is considering selling the land at auction.

Householders in Cliffe Avenue say they were not notified of the proposal to put land at the street’s junction with Green Road up for auction and only found out about the plans when ward councillors contacted them.

Residents fear the land, which is listed for auction in September, may be bought by a developer and the three garages will have to be removed.

Paul Ding, who has owned one of the garages for 22 years, claimed when he contacted the Council to raise his concerns, he was told details of the proposal received by ward councillors were confidential.

He said: “The garage is essential to me. I have found it very upsetting, especially the fact I wasn’t told about it. Nobody’s consulted with me. I would be willing to buy the plot of land my garage is on, I need it that much.”

Pensioner David Gray, 71, who bought another of the garages 18 months ago and spent £600 restoring it, said he may be forced to stop driving if it was pulled down. He said: “If the land is sold off for housing the developer will have to supply off road parking. If the land is sold they will have to knock down the garage to make way for off road parking.” Councillor Debbie Davies (Con, Baildon) said: “I think it is disgraceful that the Council chose not to inform the three owners of the garages, and to make matters worse when one of them rang the Council he was told that the information had been given to me in confidence.

“As an elected councillor I am not sure how I am meant to give comments on something without consulting with the local people themselves who would be affected by this sale.” A Council spokesman said: “We continually review whether or not the Council should continue to hold land and property and this particular site has come up for review.

“As part of the review process we seek ward members’ opinions but we haven't approached individual tenants at this stage as no decision has been made.”