A GROUP of Huddersfield residents have pledged their support for plans to build a children's hospice in the area.

Members of Deighton and Sheepridge Conservative Working Men's Club say they would welcome plans by the West Yorkshire Forget-Me-Not Trust to build a £3m hospice and respite centre on land off Fell Greave Road, Brackenhall.

Club members have started a petition in support of the idea and have adopted the trust as their charity for 2007.

The first fundraising event will be an entertainment night at the club on Thursday, April 19.

Their pledge of support comes after some people living on the Ferndale estate in Brackenhall protested against building on the three-acre site, which is currently leased to a farmer by Kirklees Council.

Ten objectors, including children and the Ferndale Community Association, are worried about loss of urban greenspace if the scheme goes ahead.

They have complained to Kirklees planners and the trust fears the complaints could force a re-think of the scheme, which has generated a massive fundraising campaign in Huddersfield.

Margaret Rushworth, the WMC secretary, said: "The majority of our members are people who live around the Brackenhall area.

"I have not heard anyone say the plans are a bad idea.

"I was incensed at people saying that they didn't want it here.

"It's going to bring jobs to the community, as well as helping families.

"It also means people's homes will be more secure, because there will be someone at the hospice all the time, whereas now their houses back on to open land. How anybody can want to deny a child care is beyond me."

A decision on the planning application for the hospice has been delayed for at least a month.

The trust has struggled to find a site for its centre - which will be eco-friendly in design - since the charity formed in 1997.

Plans for a hospice at Old Lindley Road, Lindley Moor, were rejected by the council in 2005.

Sites at Hebden Bridge, Storthes Hall at Kirkburton and Liversedge were considered and discarded.