ANGRY councillors have begun a war of words over the controversial plans to build thousands of homes.

Kirklees Council began its public consultation into the 15-year plan to build 37,000 homes, create thousands of jobs and alter transport systems earlier this year.

The Local Development Report, asked for by the Government, gives four options for each of the six Kirklees areas – Spen Valley, the Batley area, Dewsbury and Mirfield, Huddersfield, The Valleys, and Denby Dale and Kirkburton.

But the plans have caused controversy with several community groups vowing to fight the council.

Now opposition Conservative councillors have announced they are set to reject all four options.

Clr Jim Dodds, leader of the group, accused the new Labour Lib Dem coalition of failing to provide a clear vision for the future of Kirklees.

He said: "They have blindly accepted Government targets for 37,000 new homes and are prepared to allocate random sites for industrial use, claiming they will create jobs while showing no ability to produce any rational strategy.

"It is clear to us that no thought has been given to the effects on local infrastructures.

"The result is that they are pitting communities against each other and dismissing local objectors as nimbies."

But Clr Mehboob Khan, Kirklees Council leader, attacked the Tory comments as hypocrisy.

He said: "Kirklees’ Tories are shamelessly attempting to re-write history.

"The real truth is that a Conservative government would increase house development.

"The target for Kirklees was agreed by the former Conservative leader of the council at the Leeds City Regions Board.

I understand the share of new housing could have been much less if Clr Light had agreed to suggestions for more housing development in North Yorkshire.

"The four options currently being considered were created by the previous Conservative cabinet and we inherited these options for public consultation.

"The Tories had agreed the timetable for consultation with the Government which prevented us from changing the options or delaying the consultation."

Lib Dem spokesman, Clr David Ridgway, said he was ‘dismayed at the ineptitude’ of the previous Conservative administration.

The Liberal Democrats in the Colne Valley are now demanding that the consultation process is halted.

He said: "I want my chance to challenge the Government’s figure of 37,000 new homes.

"I would like to see a figure suggested by the council.

"The consultation process has also been poor, every resident should receive a letter advising them of what’s being done."

Clr Nicola Turner for the Lib Dems, said: "We reject that target which the previous Conservative leader, Clr Robert Light, fully accepted.

"Future planning is important.

"We already receive contacts from many local residents right across the Colne Valley requesting housing for their children who wish to live close to their families.

"We also appreciate that there are areas that other local residents wish to protect and it is our first and basic principle that the green belt will be preserved, as far as is possible," Clr Turner added.