THEY made a defiant stand on the fields they want to save.

Over 150 local people in Newsome and Hall Bower turned out on Saturday to express their opposition to any proposals to develop on greenfield and greenbelt land below Castle Hill.

It was a demonstration of their fears over proposals in the controversial Local Development Framework.

The plan is for many thousands of new homes to be built in areas across Kirklees.

Many of them will have to be constructed in areas that are currently greenbelt, or on the fringes of those areas.

Some villages could see hundreds of new homes and people in Newsome are worried that development will spread out below the historic Huddersfield landmark that is Castle Hill.

Green Party councillor Julie Stewart-Turner said: “It’s been a great turnout showing peoples genuine concern for our greenfield sites in Newsome and below Castle Hill”.

The land they fear could be developed is bordered by High Lane, Ashes Lane and New Laithe Hill.

Much of the site is owned by Kirklees Council as is the land below Jackroyd Lane towards Huddersfield town centre.

Clr Stewart-Turner said: “We are going through the Local Development Framework process and it is vital that local opinions about maintaining our open spaces are not only expressed but listened to and acted upon.

“There are significant brownfield sites which are under utilised.

“Allocating greenfield and greenbelt land for development will be disincentive to develop our derelict areas and therefore stifle regeneration”.

The Green Party Leader on Kirklees Council Andrew Cooper met the protestors in Hall Bower.

He said: “Nimby is often used as a negative term for those who don’t want building on land in their backyard, but this land is in the backyard of everybody in Huddersfield.

“It is the backdrop to Castle Hill which is part of the DNA of the people of Huddersfield.

“The image of the Victoria Tower on Castle Hill surrounded by fields is ingrained in the local consciousness.

“To see it threatened by encroaching development is something everybody in Huddersfield should care about”.

A petition about the Newsome concerns will be presented at the Kirklees Council meeting on Wednesday.

Since December, the council has been inviting local people to comment on the proposal which makes land available to businesses to create 35,000 jobs and 26,200 homes.

The consultation finished in mid February.