Campaigners and councillors have attacked Bradford Council after a major meeting to discuss plans for 300 homes was cancelled.

The Council has been accused of an “utterly appalling” waste of time and public money and of conducting a “farce” after the Shipley area planning panel meeting in Menston was abandoned minutes after starting.

More than 200 people packed into the Kirklands Community Centre in the village as the panel met to make a decision on applications by Barratt Homes to build 174 homes at Derry Hill and Taylor Wimpey to construct 125 homes at Bingley Road.

But chairman Councillor Shabir Hussain was forced to call it to a halt and apologise – amid catcalls and boos – after hearing planning officers had not managed to obtain responses from the Environment Agency.

Graham Booth, chairman of Menston Action Group, which opposes the schemes, said: “This has been an appalling waste of time and an utterly appalling waste of public money.”

Councillor Glenn Miller, Conservative group leader on the Council, said the stalled meeting could have cost thousands of pounds.

“It’s embarrassing to the authority and the planning office should be ashamed – it beggars belief,” he said.

John Eyles, the council’s major development manager, said: “I can understand people’s frustration with the delay but it is important the panel bases its decision on the full range of responses and comments.”

Neither Mr Eyles nor the Council would comment on the meeting’s cost.