HUNDREDS of campaigners fighting to save a Yeadon beauty spot have attacked city councillors for not doing more to

protect the area.

Around 200 people packed into Yeadon Town Hall last Friday night to question a council planning officer and ward councillors over the proposal to remove the

protected Green Belt status of a popular green spot at Yeadon Banks.

Concerned residents said they feared the beauty spot would be swamped by houses if it lost its status.

The land, which belongs to textiles firm Leeds Group, faces being removed from the Green Belt following the recommendation of a Government-appointed Unitary Development Plan inspector.

Under the recommendation, the land would be designated a 'protected area of search', which ward councillors say means it would not automatically be used for

housing.

The meeting, which was chaired by Councillor Mike Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) was set up by ward councillors to give

residents a chance to ask questions about the UDP and the Haw Lane site.

But anger spilled over as residents heard Leeds City Council has already agreed with the inspector's recommendations.

One man said: "The inspector may have approved the new changes but it's not just the inspector. The council have also accepted it. Despite what was said about Leeds City Council not wanting to development on greenfield sites, the council has accepted the proposal."

Other residents asked what ward

councillors had done to stop the council accepting the recommendations.

In the original UDP draft, the land was recommended to remain in the Green Belt, but the decision was overturned after the landowner objected, despite residents' protests.

Campaigners at the meeting said the inspector's argument was flawed.

One protester said: "How is it that a company can own a piece of land and can object to a situation, and the inspector will listen to that company, accept their objection, but everybody else in the area who objects to something is ignored."

Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate for Aireborough, John Proctor, accused the council of doing deals with developers over some sites in Leeds, an attacked the Government over whole UDP process.

Ward councillors defended themselves, saying the final decision on accepting the inspector's recommendations was made by the council's executive board.

Councillor Moira Dunn (Lab, Aireborough) said: "We've made objections to the plan. I can assure you that I'm not going to sell anything on as far as that land is concerned.

"There's all kinds of rumours going around. I don't know what the heck is going on. We haven't agreed to anything, personally speaking."

Planning officer Paul Gough said the council wanted to re-define the green belt in order to protect land, as there was no clear green belt boundary. He said the new designation of the land would not necessarily lead to any houses being built.

Councillors suggested thinking of new ways to oppose the recommendation when residents fill out the special objection forms. The forms are available at Yeadon Library.

One resident suggested applying to have the land changed to a village green under the 1965 Common Land Act.