Dog walking, kite flying and games of football and tennis have gone on for the past 20 years on land deemed suitable for 170 new homes, a public inquiry was told yesterday.

Residents who are applying for Derry Hill in Menston to be granted Village Green status, which would probably stop the new houses being built, put their case to a Government inspector who is leading the inquiry.

Earlier this year, the permission was granted, subject to further agreements, for Barratt Homes to build the houses on the land, despite massive objections from people living in the village.

But at the Kirklands Community Centre, independent inspector David Manley QC was told by several villagers how they have used the four fields, which make up the Derry Hill site, for a range of activities in the past 20 years.

Among the people to give evidence was Dr Steve Ellams, who has made the application and is a member of the Menston Action Group.

He said there was enough evidence from people living in Menston to show the fields have been heavily used by the community to deserve the special status.

However, the application is being objected to by Barratt Homes, Adrian Heather and Richard Horner, who own three fields which make up the site, and Simon Mason, who owns a fourth filed on the site.

Their representative, Charles George QC, told the inquiry there was no evidence to say the whole of the community had been using the land for various activities over the years.

Earlier, barrister Frances Lawley, on behalf of Dr Ellams, said the inspector would have a test to apply to see whether the land should be awarded Village Green status.

She said the test was “whether the witnesses did use the land and if they did in significant numbers and whether that use was of right”.

In order for village green status to be granted, an applicant has to prove a site has been used by residents for at least two decades for recreation, sports and games.

Campaigners are hoping to emulate residents in neighbouring Burley -in-Wharfedale who saw Burley House Field granted village green status in 2009 following a battle lasting almost a decade and involving three separate public inquiries.