A CAMPAIGN against the building of dozens of home on Idle Moor is getting underway amid a strong desire to protect green space.

Gleeson Homes has submitted plans to build 45 homes on land west of Kenstone Crescent, Idle.

"There's a strength of feeling that people are keen to protect this area," said Julie Tyne, of Kenstone Crescent, who is part of a group called Save Idle Moor which has put banners up around the community encouraging people to object.

Over 400 objectors have been put forward, including access to the site which would be via narrow residential roads Green Lane, Sorrin Close and Kenstone Crescent.

Mrs Tyne said: "We've always been a cul-de-sac but we would become a through road."

She also said the field itself is an outdoor space that is well used by the community.

"There are a lot of dog walkers and families with children who play up there," she said. "It's not like a park, it's very natural."

"A lot of people are not very happy about it," said Aaron Pearce, of Sandhill Fold, Idle. "They're getting rid of green space which is an amenity for local people.It would be a massive shame to destroy it.

"People are going to move into those houses but then what services are there? The schools are oversubscribed and the transport links aren't very good.

"There are so many sites that are better placed."

Cllr Jeanette Sunderland (Lib Dem, Idle and Thackley) said: "I've been working with local residents helping them put their case against this piecemeal development. The land is designated as urban green space and it should remain as such.

"There are serious questions about access as there a number of blind bends and insufficient sight lines.

Cllr Sunderland also said a huge amount of development in Idle and Thackley is already having an impact on the water table.

"They need to stop building above the flood plain until they understand the consequences of development.

"Each housing development is affecting the water table as people who never experienced flooding before have seen their cellars flood.

"There has been a cumulative impact and there's been no real upgrade to drains and sewers."

A spokesperson for Gleeson Homes said: "This small development to be constructed and sold by Gleeson Homes has been well thought out and carefully designed to ensure that it becomes a sustainable part of the local community. In response to loss of green open space, Gleeson said: "As this is a relatively small housing development, the impact to green open space is equally small with the homes taking up four acres. The development has been designed to maintain corridors of open land throughout, particularly on the western boundary. The site is predominantly used by dog walkers, and as such a path network will be incorporated into the site.

In response access concerns, Gleeson said: "A full Transport Assessment has been prepared to support the planning application which concludes that the proposed residential development can be delivered without any harm to the local highway network, and based on experience, it is Gleeson’s opinion there are no justifiable transport related reasons why the scheme should not be approved on highways grounds.

In response to flooding concerns, Gleeson said: "The development will provide storage on site which will only allow a similar run off to green field levels, with an additional allowance for Climate Change, and so the risk of it causing flooding should be similar or even reduced."

Cllr Julie Humphreys (Lab, Idle and Thackley) added: "As a lifelong resident of Idle, I understand how strongly residents feel about our beautiful green spaces.

"The pandemic has shown the importance of these spaces to our communities and I’m not surprised by the strength of feeling expressed by many residents to me.

"As a ward councillor I have been contacted by several concerned residents and will be sharing their concerns through the planning process to ensure they are taken into account as the application is considered."