A TORY councillor has vowed she will continue to fight the newly-approved scheme to build 112 homes in Highburton.

Clr Christine Smith, the party's housing spokesperson on Kirklees Council, opposes Barratts' plan to build the estate on the Southfield Mills site, off Burton Acres Lane.

More than 150 letters of protest had been received about the proposal, which many felt was out of character with local building.

The scheme was finally given the green light after last Friday's meeting of the Heavy Woollen District planning sub-committee in Dewsbury.

Clr Smith and fellow Tory ward councillors Clrs Mark Hemingway and Adrian Murphy all told the meeting they were concerned about the scale of the housing development.

But the scheme was finally approved by seven votes to five.

Clr Smith said: "We must now lobby Barratts to try and reduce the number of three-storey dwellings on the site.

"This planning application has shown that local people, local parish councils, ward members and civic groups' voices are completely ignored," she added.