CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a business park near Brighouse outlined their case at a public inquiry.

Clifton residents are opposing plans to build the business park on a 62-acre site between Wakefield Road, Clifton Common, and Coal Pit Lane.

Members of Clifton Action Group went to the inquiry in Halifax to tell planning inspector Deirdre Burrows about their objections.

The inquiry - due to end in May - is examining Calderdale Council's plan to designate the greenfield site at Clifton as land for an office or business park in its next Unitary Development Plan.

The UDP sets out how land in Calderdale should be used. Councillors and officers use it as a guide in decisions about planning applications.

The council is due to adopt the new UDP next year.

Development company PPG has have already lodged a planning application to build the business park.

It would include a hotel, leisure facilities, restaurants and take-aways, as well as offices.

The developers say the scheme will create more than 3,000 jobs.

But action group members and Clifton residents say the development will be too big and result in a loss of open land which separates Clifton from Brighouse.

They say this, coupled with the extra traffic the park would generate, will ruin the rural nature of Clifton.

Calderdale has received about 700 letters of objection to the business park.

Calder Valley MP Christine McCafferty has also raised concerns about the plans.

She has asked Calderdale Council to designate the land as green belt rather than land to be used for employment.

She said: "This development is much greater than anything that was considered when the land was designated for employment use in the UDP.

"I understand from Calder- dale Council that there are a large number of objections that have not been resolved regarding the allocation of this site.

"I am hopeful that changes will be made at the inquiry, which ensure that the people of Clifton are confident that their village will remain just that - a small community with a strong identity and free from over-intensification," added Ms McCafferty.

The plans will be discussed further at another public inquiry will be held on Thursday, February 24.