GREEN belt campaigners look set to back the Conservatives in this year’s election.

Kirklees Council this week backed a Local Development Framework (LDF) proposal which could lead to 22,470 new homes in the district by 2028.

The blueprint would allow 1,500 houses on green belt land in Dewsbury, but none in south Kirklees.

There, the LDF would also allocate 122 hectares of employment land.

Labour and the Lib Dems backed the LDF at a special meeting on Tuesday. But the Conservatives voted against, saying all green belt land should be protected.

Robert Bamforth, of Kirklees Community Action Network, said last night that his umbrella group was considering backing the Tories in May’s elections.

“We shall meet on Friday to consider how the election might impact on the LDF,” he said.

“The Conservatives have promised to overturn the LDF if they gain the balance of power at the election.

“One thing we have to consider is to what extent we support the Conservatives at the election. We’re a non-party political organisation but supporting the Conservatives is one option to achieve our objective.”

Mr Bamforth also complained yesterday about the behaviour of some councillors while residents were speaking at Tuesday’s meeting at Huddersfield Town Hall.

The Mayor of Kirklees Clr Eric Firth ordered councillors to “pay attention and stop tweeting” following complaints from some campaigners.

But several councillors, including Kirklees leader Clr Mehboob Khan, continued updating their Twitter feeds while residents were speaking.

Mr Bamforth said: “I’m unhappy about the way councillors were not listening to us and continued tweeting even when the mayor asked them to stop.

“There should be common courtesy to people who have given up their time. To some, it can be quite a stressful thing to come to make a speech.

“Mehboob Khan was not giving the people the respect they deserved.”

The council leader defended his behaviour yesterday.

“I am aware of complaints about the use of mobile devices in the council chamber made by some of those who attended the meeting,” said the Greenhead Labour man.

“Elected members from all political parties, including myself, try to do everything we can to involve the wider electorate in important debates – and the use of social media technology means we are now able to keep many more people informed about chamber discussions than ever before.

“While I can understand that some may perceive the use of this technology to appear rude, I would like to reassure all those who spoke that their views were clearly heard, and certainly added to the quality of the five-hour debate which followed.”

Clr Khan added that the LDF would encourage economic growth in Kirklees.

“Across Kirklees, 70% of our total land is green belt. This plan permits just 1% of that land to come forward for development, generating over £500m of investment by 2028,” he said.

“Making just 1% of our green belt available at strategic sites across the district protects green spaces in urban areas.

“This is a plan underpinned by a desire for economic growth and has significant opportunities for business development. It sends a clear message that Kirklees is open for business.”

Kirklees Conservative leader Clr Robert Light predicted voters would punish parties which voted for the LDF.

“Labour and the Liberal Democrats have ignored residents and voted to change the face of Kirklees for ever,” he said.

“They pleaded for forgiveness because they had made hard and unpopular decisions. The problem is that those decisions were based on flawed housing figures and an unrealistic appreciation of the local economy and business community.

“The fight is by no means over. If the Conservatives are in a position to do so after the May elections, we will withdraw this flawed and unpopular plan and give residents the chance to contribute to the process.”

Tuesday’s decision reconfirmed the council’s opposition to Thornhill Estates’s Northern Gateway proposal.

The landowner had wanted to construct 841 new homes, including 500 on green belt land.

Thornhill also proposed building 355,000sq ft of offices and 10,000sq ft of new shops on the 260-hectare site at Ainley Top and Grimescar.

Edmund Thornhill said last night: “I am disappointed with the decision taken by council members, particularly as the Ainley Top strategic location was recommended for inclusion in the LDF by council officers”.