PEOPLE are being invited to have their say on plans to flatten a fire station and build social housing on the site.

Idle and Shipley fire stations are both due to close next year, and will be replaced by a new joint station in Valley Road.

Now a public consultation has begun on proposals to demolish Idle fire station, in Highfield Road, and build up to 11 homes in its place.

The homes would be built by Shipley-based social housing provider Incommunities.

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West Yorkshire Fire Service and Incommunities are currently preparing an outline planning application for the scheme, and a consultation event is being held today to allow people to share their views.

People can view the plans in detail and talk to the team at the event, at St Cuthbert’s Church Hall, Wrose Road, Wrose, from 4pm to 6pm.

But one local councillor has criticised Incommunities for not holding its public consultation nearer the site under discussion.

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) said: "This is the sort of thing a developer does when they have got something to hide."

She said there were a number of venues which would have been much closer to the people affected, such as the fire station itself, Blakehill Primary School over the road or the Highfield Hotel nearby.

She said: "We welcome new homes to rent in the area as they are needed, but I would have thought a community consultation could have been done in the community that it affects."

A spokesman for both Incommunities and the Fire Service said: "The local venue was felt the most suitable and would cause least disruption compared to the alternative venue options.

"If any residents are unable to attend the consultation event and would like to give their views or would like the scheme proposal sent to them we would urge them to email emma.gomersal@dppukltd.com by Friday, June 26, or ring Incommunities’ Development Team on 01274 254241 who would be happy to help."

A public consultation on a similar housing plan by Incommunities for the Shipley fire station site, in Saltaire Road, is expected to take place next month.