Disabled people have lost their battle to stop cul-de-sacs near their new complexes being turned into through roads.

But an area panel of councillors said solicitors should have found out about plans to open up the road to through traffic.

Councillors argued that the plans for new roads through Jacana Way and Quail Avenue in Clayton Heights had been in place since 1992 - and potential house buyers should have been told by their solicitors.

Members of Bradford area panel made their comments as residents protested about the plans.

Tables had to be moved aside as disabled residents from the £2.7 million Eden Gardens complex on Quail Avenue pleaded with the panel not to take their freedom away by opening up the road.

The panel met yesterday to decide a proposal by Barratt Homes to build 317 homes on the Brayshaw Reservoir site which would require the new access roads.

Councillor Michael Walls said: "I am surprised that at the time of carrying out the relevant land searches, solicitors acting for the relevant purchasers did not ask for information on question 17 on the search form. This would have asked the question 'Are there any road proposals within 200 metres of the property concerned'."

And Councillor Valerie Binney agreed.

She claimed: "Someone has been hiding quite a lot from these people."

Chairman Clive Richardson said: "The application was submitted in 1992, it was never a secret. It was not something the Council tried to hide and we have always been quite open about it. The builders and developers knew all along that the roads would be built. I do not understand why they didn't tell people about them."