Campaigners fighting a plan for 270 homes on a green fields site at Thackley have unveiled a massive protest banner.

The “Hands Off” message has been set up on Leeds Road beside fields where the Persimmon Homes West Yorkhire development could be built.

Last month the builder formally submitted plans to Bradford Council for the site on Cote Farm estate.

But the scheme faces fierce opposition and residents are uging all those concerned to express their views and e-mail any objections before the Council’s cut-off date this Friday.

Isobel Burgess helped unfurl the banner and explained the reason behind it: “This development will have a huge impact on the lives of not just those peole who live here but those who travel through Thackley,” said marketing assistant Miss Burgess.

“We have put the banner on Leeds Road to make them aware of the closing date for objections as even those who just commute through here will be affected by some 500 additional cars coming onto the road from that number of new homes.

“All the application details are on the Bradford Council planning website and the reference number is 13/04148/MAF.”

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) helped organise the banner and urged those with objections to make their voices heard in the last few available days: “People need to make those objections now – these are not the sort of new homes we need in this part of the district,” said Coun Sunderland, who is leader of the Council’s Liberal Democrats group. “There are currently some 500 properties up for sale in BD10, of all different sizes, and there are 200 homes standing empty here which people are paying council tax for.

“But what we don’t have, and what we need, are homes for single people, and particularly older single women.”

Persimmon Homes has previously stressed its view that the proposed two, three, four and five-bedroom properties are needed in the area.

Wayne Gradwell, managing director at Persimmon Homes West Yorkshire, said of the Cote Farm site: “We have endeavoured to address the concerns of the local residents and have carried out a wide range of in-depth reports.

“It is very important to us that we develop homes that serve the local com-munity. We await a decision from Bradford Council.”