More than 150 people packed into a Holme Valley club to show their anger at plans for thousands of new homes in Kirklees.

People from across the district were in ‘an angry mood’ at a public meeting in Underbank Club.

And later this month there will be a big demonstration to underline the strength of feeling on the issue.

Holmfirth businessman Greg Christofi - who pulled the meeting together - said: “Kirklees Council needs to go back to the drawing board. We accept there is a need for new homes, but not so many.”

In its Local Draft Framework, the council proposes to build around 30,000 new homes and is currently consulting on the plans.

Mr Christofi, a former Holme Valley parish councillor, set up the meeting to boost protest efforts.

“I felt that instead of different groups fighting separately, we would get more results by joining forces,” he said.

“Those at the meeting accept we need more homes - but not that many. We are also worried about the district’s infrastructure. It needs sorting out.

“We already have problems with sewerage at times of heavy rain; schools are full and there are not enough doctors.

“We need to look at the bigger picture. Just building houses is not the answer. It’s not that easy.”

Mr Christofi, who owns The Bridge bakery in Holmfirth, said the meeting discussed problems facing different areas.

The public meeting at Underbank WMC opposing the proposed housing development in the area.

“We talked about how we can make the council see that it is making a big mistake,” he said.

He said councillors need to ‘go back to the drawing board’.

“They need to think about this,” he said. “We need to discuss together how we can do this. Otherwise, it won’t work. “

Mr Christofi lives in Scholes where there are plans for around 200 new homes.

“That will be a huge increase and we already have problems,” he said.

The demonstration is set for January 23 when protesters will walk from Underbank - leaving at 11am - to Holmfirth. “There will be an awful lot of people there but it will be a peaceful protest,” said Mr Christofi, who said it is hoped to unite Facebook pages from across Kirklees to get the message out.

He also spotlighted the number of empty properties in Kirklees. “There are lots of places we could use,” he said. “And there has to be more affordable homes. We want our young people to stay around and we must work it out.”

A campaign is also under way in Grimescar to protect Green Belt status.

A Save Grimescar Valley group is urging residents to write to Kirklees Council expressing their views.

The group says 2016 gives ‘the best chance of seeing most of the area designated as Green Belt’.

Housing has already been given approval in the area, but the group says the rest could yet be saved.

Residents are being urged to formally comment on the Draft Local Plan and support a proposed Green Belt boundary for the Grimescar Valley.

Public consultation on the issue is open until 5pm on February 1.