THE mystery fly-poster who festooned Huddersfield and Brighouse with stickers and posters proclaiming “Save Castle Hill” has struck again.

This time people living in Kirkburton have had petition leaflets posted through their letterboxes that claim local green space is to be built on.

And, once again, the missive mentions a local Conservative councillor who says he is nothing to do with the petition, which he described as “spurious”. What’s more, the leaflet features a mocked-up version of Kirklees Council’s logo.

It has now been raised with council legal officers.

Clr Richard Smith, whose details appear on the leaflet said the petition had “caused uproar” in Kirkburton and Highburton and that he had fielded scores of messages, emails and voicemails about the issue.

He said people were “genuinely fearful that bulldozers are about to turn up” and said “this was nothing to do with me”.

He added: “I have never before been contacted by residents on this scale on a single issue. The phone has been non-stop.

“The petition is loosely-worded and does not appear to mention a specific site, which has led to several people speculating about any possible development.

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“The Kirklees Local Plan did at one time include the field above the recreation ground, opposite the top part of Burton Acres Lane. However, this was rejected and is currently protected.

“There is no planning application regarding any other site that I am aware of now. A small number of houses were approved off Gregory Drive a couple of years ago, but I cannot see any other. I am not aware of any current application that would be a cause for concern.

“Unfortunately, this type of activity does cause a lot of concern within the community. To put out something in this way makes people get worried but the premise of the argument doesn’t have any basis in fact.”

The council has confirmed it has written to the individual concerned about the Castle Hill stickers, which have been stuck on lamp posts, litter bins and power boxes across the district.

They have even appeared in Calderdale with an amended message: “Save our Celtic Heritage”.

The authority has confirmed it has begun enforcement proceedings and that a letter has been issued to the person responsible “asking them to cease with the poster/sticker campaign and to remove the ones that are already up.”

In May the Castle Hill stickers directed people to an online petition at Change.com – ‘Do you want to protect Castle Hill?’ – set up by Kirklees councillor Bernard McGuin.

He denied responsibility for the on-street campaign and said he considered it to be fly-posting.