Aireborough is facing disaster unless housing targets for Leeds are slashed from 70,000 to 35,000, campaigners are warning.

An appeal for help to protect the greenbelt has gone out to residents, MPs and councillors, who are urged to attend a public hearing into Leeds’ core strategy for the next 13 years.

The campaign group Ward is calling for a show of support when the adjourned hearing continues at 9.30am on Wednesday in Leeds Town Hall.

Members are stressing that the enquiry will determine the future of greenbelt land.

Last week Leeds City Council’s housing targets were slammed as ‘unachievable and unrealistic’ at the hearing.

Pudsey, Horsforth and Aireborough MP Stuart Andrew told the inspector his constituency had suffered more than any other in the city from overdevelopment which had caused a huge strain on its infrastructure.

But the council’s executive member for neighbourhoods, planning and support services Councillor Peter Gruen, said: “The focus of the strategy is to provide a way in which Leeds can continue to develop and grow as a major UK city to meet the needs of all residents both now and the future. The balancing act is to ensure we do that in a fair and sustainable way.”