Protestors fighting a new housing plan for a village have turned back the clock.

They hope a planning appeal dating back more than 30 years may halt a new scheme for houses in Netherthong.

“I consider it would be inadvisable to approve a proposal which could lead to an increased number of vehicles ... using these narrow lanes.”

That comment has been unearthed in a planning appeal which was thrown out – in 1980.

Residents say that if the village’s roads were unsuitable then – they remain so as Netherthong is largely unchanged but now has many more cars.

Resident Geoff Armstrong uncovered the Department of the Environment planning appeal ruling which forms part of his objection to Steven Butterfield’s and Kurt Schramm’s proposal for 18 homes on land off Miry Lane.

The Inspector’s ruling, by a DF Binnion, related to fields nearby.

Back in the 80s the inspector ruled on the village: “I noted, however, that the roads in the centre, often without footways, were barely wide enough to allow two vehicles to pass one another and in certain lengths only wide enough for one vehicle.

“...I consider that it would be inadvisable to approve a proposal which could lead to an increased number of vehicles, however few in number, using these narrow roads, with a consequently greater risk of conflict, particularly between pedestrians and vehicles.”

“Increased traffic would also in my opinion detract from the amenity of this areas, which is substantially residential in character.”

Mr Armstrong, a resident of 25 years, was part of a community that saw off developers’ plans in 1980 and 1993.

He said: “Every time they’ve tried to build on these open bits of land off Miry Lane and Wesley Avenue it’s always been prevented from going ahead.

“Since then Dean Brook Mill has been demolished and built up so you could argue it is worse now yet the roads and access remains as poor.” Netherthong Action Group sought support from Holme Valley Parish Council ahead of a planning decision at Kirklees Council.

There is also a website www.nagonline.org

Robert Halstead, planning agent for the developer, said: “I have had the chance to look at the decision and we think that subsequent guidance in the Government’s Manual for Streets Two, published in 2010, sets a different standard for residential traffic on this type of road than that which was in force when this appeal decision was made.

“But clearly it is a matter for the council to determine as part of their normal planning applications and consideration process”.