VILLAGERS fighting housing plans across Kirklees have been given some high-powered backing from Westminster.

Kirklees Community Action Network (KCAN), a coalition of community groups from Slaithwaite, Holme Valley, Denby Dale, Scissett, Lindley, Linthwaite and Skelmanthorpe, has called for Kirklees Council to postpone its Local Development Framework (LDF) plan.

And they are being supported by two local Tory MPs.

The council is currently consulting its LDF plan with the public for the second time after proposals drafted in 2009 were shelved.

The plan proposes as many as 28,000 new homes by 2028 with large increases in some semi-rural areas, including up to 689 new homes in Kirkburton – a rise of 43.1%.

Increases of more than 20% are also proposed for many other areas.

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