CAMPAIGNERS fighting against large housing developments in Menston will head into court once again tomorrow.

Menston Action Group (MAG) is calling on its supporters to attend a judicial review hearing in Leeds, scrutinising Bradford Council's decision to grant planning permission for 12 houses on land at Bingley Road.

Housing developer Chartford Homes was given planning permission for the development earlier this year, despite MAG raising concerns about the suitability of the site, which regularly floods after prolonged rainfall.

The challenge is one of three legal battles MAG is currently involved in.

A full three-judge Court of Appeal hearing is due to take place next year regarding a planned 173-house development by Barrett Homes at Derry Hill in the village. And a public enquiry about another proposed development in the village – 137 houses on land at Bingley Road – is expected to take place in June 2016.

Applicant, Taylor Wimpey, appealed against the decision to reject this development amid flood risk concerns.

The Judicial Review hearing about the Chartford Homes plan will take place at The Courthouse in Oxford Row, Leeds, starting at 9.30am.

In a statement to supporters, MAG said: "We sought permission to have that decision reviewed in the High Court, following which we were subsequently given permission to proceed on two grounds of challenge by The Honourable Mrs Justice Patterson DBE.

"The first ground alleges that Bradford Council improperly failed to consider the ability to alleviate existing flooding issues.

"The second ground alleges that the Council’s Regulatory and Appeals Committee was materially misdirected by council officers when informed of the water storage proposals for the site."

The group is urging residents who want to join the leading campaigners at the hearing to catch the 8.49am train from Menston to Leeds tomorrow.

MAG has long been fighting the plans to build hundreds of homes in the villages, with chief concerns being flooding and drainage problems as a result of building on fields around the edges of the village.

MAG attended a Judicial Review in July regarding the Derry Hill housing plan. Although the judge dismissed MAG's claims and found in favour of Bradford Council's decision, the group appealed. A Court of Appeal hearing resulted in them being given permission to continue to a full three-judge Court of Appeal hearing.

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