Protesters fighting a proposed skateboard park in Cottingley have vowed to step up their campaign.

Angry residents are being urged to send protest letters to Bradford Council's chief executive Ian Stewart opposing the planned park and multi-use games area on Cottingley recreation ground.

The Shipley area committee will decide in March whether to build the controversial games areas, which include a five-a-side pitch.

Residents have formed the Recreation Field Action Group and are collecting money for a 'legal fund' to pay for a solicitor to draft a letter which will be sent to the Council outlining their objections.

The group has sent a list of other areas in Cottingley it feels would be better locations, including Nab Wood Sports Centre.

A planning application was submitted by a group of youngsters but the Shipley area planning panel ruled last December that permission for the skateboard park and multi-use games area could not be considered by them because the land belongs to the Council.

The panel said a barrister had stated in a planning magazine article that permission to build multi-use games areas on a council's own recreation ground was not required and the decision on the ground - behind Fairy Dell - will now be made by the recreation department.

At an action group meeting, spokesman Stuart Chadwick, said: "I believe this decision has taken away people's democratic right to object. We need as many people as possible to make their feelings felt so the Council takes notice."

Brian Kettlewell, a Fairy Dell resident, said people were not against an area for people to play in but felt the planned location was unsuitable. He said if built, the £80,000 scheme would lead to a loss of green space, vandalism, noise problems and a drop in house prices.

But Howard Clough, chairman of the Cottingley Community Association and a supporter of the proposed scheme, said: "What people must remember is that this is a recreation ground and has been forever, as far as I'm concerned. Surely the idea of using a recreation ground is to have recreational facilities on it."

The area, which will be 50 metres from the nearest home, will be funded by the developers of new houses in Cottingley Moor Road and by Bradford Council.

A Bradford Council spokesman said: "Following the Shipley Planning Panel in December and feedback from local residents, we are carrying out a detailed investigation. At the same time, we are also considering other possible sites. Our investigation includes a noise report from Environmental Health into the site.

"The Council will take a full report to Shipley Area Committee in March."