Angry families will go to the Department of Environment to try to stop a scheme which would allow access to a private housing development through Bowling cemetery.

They say they will also go to the Local Government Ombudsman after Bradford Council's Planning Sub-committee approved the demolition of a listed boundary wall to allow the access to go ahead.

The members approved the scheme after a visit to the cemetery. They had considered a 359-name petition and three letters objecting to the development.

The objectors protested that the graves would be at risk from vandalism if the access road went through.

They said the new development would increase traffic and the proposed access was in the wrong position because there was no clear line of vision.

But officers said the section of wall to be demolished would be reused and rebuilt as a section of another boundary point.

They said the vandalism of graves was not relevant to the planning application but felt proposed new security gates would prevent any problem.

But Ward Councillor Mukhtar Ali told the meeting people visiting the graves would have little privacy.

Resident Alec Firth said after the meeting that they would go to the Department of Environment to try to stop the demolition because the walls were listed.

He said they would also go to the Local Government Ombudsman, complaining about the Council.

Mr Firth said three generations of his family were buried in the cemetery. "This decision is an absolute disgrace," he said.

Eugene Treco, who lives in the cemetery lodge, said his family would face traffic danger if the access went through the cemetery.

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