COUNCILLORS have demanded that a green part of Huddersfield is protected from development.

Lindley Lib Dems yesterday called for the Grimescar Valley to be preserved.

Landowners Thornhill Estates want to develop 642 acres from Ainley Top to Cowcliffe, including parts of Lindley Moor, Rastrick, Grimescar, Birkby and Fixby.

The Northern Gateway plan includes 841 houses; 355,000sq ft of office space; 10,000sq ft of shops and a 60-bed hotel.

But two councillors for the area have called for the valley to be protected when Kirklees Council draws up its Local Development Framework (LDF) next month.

Lindley Lib Dem Clr Christine Stanfield said: “We are totally opposed to any further erosion of the green belt in Lindley.ŠKeeping this area out of the LDF is a must.”

Clr Cahal Burke added: “There are many other areas of Kirklees which are more suitable for development.

“Lindley is now well-developed, with many new homes being built in the last five years and the area really can’t take any more.

“We will be fighting this every inch of the way to protect the Grimescar Valley.”