Kirklees Council planners were left in no doubt about the views of Skelmanthorpe residents who believe the local authority has abandoned them in a planning battle.

Builder Redrow are appealing rejection by Kirklees councillors to prevent 26 new homes on provisional open land (POL).

They want to build on land at Strike Lane, Skelmanthorpe but were turned down by councillors on the  Heavy Woollen Planning Sub Committee earlier this year.

At the opening of a planning inquiry this morning, residents and local MP Simon Reevell sought an adjournment to give them and Kirklees Council more time to assess the current situation.

The council did itself no favours in the eyes of objectors when it agreed in November not to provide any evidence at the inquiry to defend its earlier rejection.

Relations between the council and public at the meeting were further strained when it opposed the adjournment.

That may have been forced after Redrow said they would seek costs after taking the rejection decision to public inquiry.

Hearing the case for adjournment, Planning Inspector Anthony Lyman was told by Kirklees' counsel Alan Evans: "Kirklees is fully aware that public sympathy for the council's decision is going to be in short supply.

"The decision was democratically made," he added as Skelmanthorpe residents laughed.

Clr Jim Dodds, in support of residents opposing the application, said: "There is nothing democratic about this decision, it was not made in a public meeting. After hearing from people it was done in a private meeting and that is not democratic."

Richard Sagar, for Redrow, urged the planning inspector not to adjourn, highlighting Kirklees Council's opposition to such a move.

Mr Sagar said: "The council's failure to have a housing requirement is not the appellant's failure. They can not be prejudiced by failure of any other party."

Then it was residents turn to have their say, which proved to be uncomfortable for Kirklees.

Robert Bamforth, of Kirklees Community Action Network, said: "This will set a precedent which is going to govern what happens to POL sites across the Kirklees for the next couple of years".

Frank Dolan, of Skelmanthorpe, said: "The whole situation to a layman is confusing and it will be us that bear the brunt of this decision.

"It will damage our community and we have a right to be listened to.

"Residents feel badly let down."

Ian Hutchinson said: "You need to delay this for the council to get its act together and do something for the money we pay them."

The Inspector Mr Lyman rejected the adjournment saying it would be "against natural justice" to make Redrow wait until Kirklees had a proper plan in place.

The hearing continues.